A technical malfunction in the NATS flight processing system disrupted UK air traffic control on 8 September 2026, resulting in the cancellation of at least 425 flights according to FlightRadar24 data. The primary impact was observed at major airports such as Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, and Stansted, where nearly 300 flights were cancelled. EasyJet and British Airways each cancelled over 100 flights as a consequence of the fault.
Disruptions at Heathrow and Gatwick Airports
Departures at Heathrow Airport were initially halted around midday and resumed briefly before further interruptions occurred in the afternoon. By 17:00 BST, Heathrow had effectively suspended all arrivals and departures. Thirteen flights destined
for Heathrow were diverted to other UK and European airports. Gatwick Airport experienced similar disruptions, with multiple flights remaining on the tarmac for extended periods due to radar and air traffic control system failures.
Passenger Experiences During the Disruption
Phil White, a passenger on a Gatwick flight to Lanzarote, reported that his plane boarded on time but had been stuck on the tarmac for hours waiting for clearance. He stated, “It’s comfortable enough but the pilot has been on every 20 minutes saying they are waiting for information from air traffic control.” Chloe Davis, an 18-year-old passenger on a Virgin Atlantic flight from Heathrow to
Orlando, was delayed on the plane since 13:40 BST due to a shortage of gates. She said, “I’m not concerned, I would just like to know what’s going on.”
Wider Impact Across UK Airports
The technical fault affected 15 UK airports beyond the main hubs, including Birmingham, Edinburgh, Belfast City, City of Derry, East Midlands, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Southampton, and Jersey airports. Inbound flights were either held or redirected due to airspace restrictions in the London Flight Information Region, leading to numerous delays and further cancellations. Ground congestion worsened as aircraft waited on taxiways or the tarmac, impeding normal airport operations.
Official Responses and Recovery Efforts
NATS deployed engineers onsite to
address the flight processing system fault, which manages flight plans and operational data crucial for air traffic controllers. Their spokesperson said the organization was “working urgently to resume normal operations as quickly as possible” and confirmed that partial system recovery began post 17:00 BST. NATS issued apologies and advised passengers to monitor their flight status through airlines and official platforms including www.nats.aero and X.
British Airways stated the disruption was “entirely out of our control” and urged passengers to travel to airports as normal unless contacted directly. Edinburgh Airport acknowledged the situation could affect its operations. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander
recognized the widespread inconvenience caused by the issue.
Nature of the System Fault and Historical Context
The disrupted flight processing system is responsible for managing flight plans and providing operational information to UK air traffic controllers to safely coordinate airspace. Although no specific cause beyond a technical fault has been confirmed, previous disruptions include a flight plan failure in August 2023 and radar system issues in July 2025. The current fault led to significant delays due to the inability to process essential flight data in real time.
Passenger Advice and Ongoing Delays
Passengers affected by cancellations and delays are recommended to check directly with their airlines for up-to-date information. The backlog created by
the disruption continues to delay flight movements within UK and European airspace, with recovery anticipated to occur gradually as systems stabilize and traffic flow resumes.
