On September 9, 2026, a technical fault in the NATS flight data processing system disrupted air traffic control, leading to the cancellation of up to 1,000 flights across UK airports including Heathrow and Gatwick. Tens of thousands of passengers were affected nationwide.
Airline Cancellations and Flight Delays
EasyJet cancelled approximately 200 flights, followed by British Airways which cancelled over 100 flights, according to official statements. Ryanair reported delays affecting more than 65,000 passengers, with some facing delays up to eight hours. Departures were paused at Heathrow around midday (12:00 BST) and resumed with continued disruptions into the afternoon. Thirteen Heathrow-bound flights were diverted to other
UK and European airports.
Capacity Restrictions at Major UK Airports
The disruption restricted departing flights, causing ground space shortages particularly at Heathrow as planes remained unable to depart. This led to limited capacity for arrivals, with aircraft forced to park on taxiways due to lack of available gates. Other UK airports including Manchester, Birmingham, as well as airports in Scotland and Ireland, also experienced cancellations and delays linked to the same fault.
Passenger Experiences During Disruption
Passengers reported extended delays on aircraft on the tarmac. Phil White from Bexhill stated his Gatwick flight was ready to board but was held on the runway for hours due to a radar failure.
Chloe Davis, 18, from Cambridgeshire, described being delayed on a Virgin flight at Heathrow scheduled for 13:40 BST, noting parked planes on taxiways because gates were unavailable.
Official Responses and Investigation
Martin Rolfe, CEO of NATS, apologized for the disruption and pledged a full investigation into the system failure. He indicated that resolving the fault took longer than expected and focused on fixing the issue. A British Airways spokesperson confirmed cancelling or diverting more than 100 flights on Tuesday afternoon, urging customers with cancelled flights not to travel to airports due to busy call centres. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said, “It will take time
to fully resume flights, so continue to check with airlines.” She is seeking assurances that aviation support systems are sufficiently robust and has called NATS for a briefing.
Context on NATS Flight Data Processing System
The fault affected NATS’ flight data processing system, responsible for continuously updating flight plans and operational information that air traffic controllers use to manage UK airspace efficiently and safely. This incident is separate from the system failure during the August Bank Holiday weekend in 2023. Ryanair and Wizz Air have criticized NATS in the past, calling the organisation “not fit for purpose” amid recurring technical disruptions.
