On 8 September 2026, a technical malfunction in NATS’s flight processing system caused ground stops on departing flights at Heathrow and Gatwick airports, resulting in about 100 canceled flights and 367 delayed flights at Heathrow, with around 250 delays at Gatwick, representing roughly 31% of all Gatwick flights, according to FlightAware and Flightradar24.
Scope of Disruption Extends Across UK and Ireland
The disruption affected Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Stansted, Edinburgh, Luton, Birmingham, Aberdeen, and Glasgow airports, as well as Dublin Airport in Ireland. Eurocontrol reported some flights from continental Europe to Heathrow and Gatwick were being held on the ground due to an ‘ATC equipment data processing’ issue. Flight
departures out of Heathrow and Gatwick were restricted while arriving flights were not impacted, according to Heathrow Airport officials.
Cause and Response to NATS Technical Failure
NATS confirmed the problem was within its flight processing system and that engineers were on site working urgently to restore normal operations. Despite the disruption, UK airspace remained open though recovery was expected to take time. Past incidents include a 2024 NATS flight plan processing malfunction and a 2025 radar-related technical issue causing multi-hour disruptions, leading the UK’s aviation regulator to urge improved contingency planning.
Departure Ground Stops and Airline Impact
Departure ground stops were enforced at Heathrow and Gatwick, halting outbound flights temporarily and causing cancellations
and delays that affected thousands of passengers. British Airways stated the disruption was outside their control and that they were communicating with affected customers. Heathrow Airport apologized for the impact on departing flights. Ryanair, Wizz Air, and Virgin Atlantic did not immediately comment on the situation.
