More than 1,750 flights were canceled across multiple airports in the United Kingdom on September 9, 2026, due to a technical failure in the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) air traffic control system. The disruption began on Tuesday, September 8, and affected major airports including London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, and airports across Scotland.
Airlines, Passengers, and Airport Responses
Budget carriers Ryanair, Wizz Air, and EasyJet reported widespread operational disruption. Ryanair canceled over 50 flights and reported more than 65,000 passengers disrupted. EasyJet confirmed some flights could not operate and experienced delays. Heathrow Airport, Europe’s largest airport, urged passengers to “only travel if your
flight is confirmed to be operating” and deployed extra staff across terminals to support affected travelers. Thousands of passengers were stranded for hours on airport runways and in terminals amid the cancellations and delays.
Official Statements and Leadership Accountability
NATS CEO Martin Rolfe apologized for the disruption and emphasized safety as the priority, stating, “Our job is also to make sure that people stay safe.” He described the cause as “an issue in our flight processing system,” which has since been resolved. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander summoned Rolfe for a meeting to seek assurances and review lessons learned from the incident. Ryanair’s COO Neal McMahon
publicly called for Rolfe’s resignation, criticizing repeated system failures and demanding accountability from NATS leadership.
Safety Measures and Recovery Efforts
The NATS failure caused delays and cancellations cascading across 15 UK airports and flights beyond UK airspace. Decisions to delay or halt flights were taken only when necessary to maintain safety. Heathrow apologized to travelers and confirmed additional colleagues are assisting passengers while working with NATS and airline partners to restore normal operations. Airlines and airports continue managing a significant backlog of flights and rebooking affected passengers.
Context of Repeated NATS Outages and Pressure on Leadership
This incident marks the second major NATS air traffic control system outage within three years. Both Ryanair and
Wizz Air criticized NATS leadership following the disruption. Transport Secretary Alexander’s meeting with Rolfe underscores government scrutiny aiming to improve NATS system reliability and accountability.
