A lightning strike on air traffic control equipment at London Luton Airport suspended operations between 17:40 and 19:15 BST on 27 August 2026, halting flight landings and takeoffs.
Flight Cancellations and Diversions at Luton Airport
The suspension caused approximately 30 flights to be cancelled or diverted. Wizz Air flight W95378 from Turin to Luton was redirected to Gatwick Airport, while flight W92601 from Prague was diverted to Stansted Airport. Flights to and from Luton have since resumed following the interruption.
Severe Weather Impact
The lightning strike coincided with severe thunderstorms and flash flooding over the South East England region. Local roads near Luton Airport, including those used for airport access,
experienced flooding. Flooded roads contributed to the cancellation of local bus services serving the airport. Flights at Stansted Airport were also affected by the severe weather.
Passenger Experiences Amid Disruption
Gary Nash from Barton-le-Clay, Bedfordshire, had his flight from Luton to Alicante cancelled and traveled to Birmingham to catch an alternate flight. Nash described the situation as “chaotic” with up to 1,000 passengers affected. Kika Rocha, traveling from London with a cancelled flight to Ibiza, reported poor customer communication after airport services stopped at 20:00 BST. Rocha and fellow passengers managed to rebook flights for the following day but not to Ibiza, instead traveling
to other destinations in Spain.
Jeff Chan, 26, experienced a six-hour delay on his Venice-bound flight and said he received updates only via his airline app. He noted flooding caused his bus from Luton Parkway station to be cancelled despite the Luton DART shuttle remaining operational. Chan highlighted confusion and uncertainty among travelers, many with children, over the length of delays.
Official Statements from Luton Airport and NATS
A London Luton Airport spokesperson confirmed the suspension of operations from 17:40 to 19:15 BST due to a lightning strike affecting Air Traffic Control systems, “resulting in a number of cancellations and diversions.” The spokesperson stated that flights have
resumed and apologized for the disruptions. The spokesperson added, “The disruption coincided with a period of severe weather across the area, resulting in flash flooding on local roads, and the airport approach.”
The air traffic control provider NATS reported severe thunderstorms caused significant flight disruptions at both Luton and Stansted airports, apologizing for the impact. NATS confirmed flight operations had resumed at Luton following the earlier suspension linked to the lightning strike and stated, “Flights to and from London Luton Airport have now resumed following an earlier suspension caused by a lightning strike affecting Air Traffic Control equipment. We apologise
for the disruption caused.”
Continuing Disruptions
Some flights at Luton Airport continued to experience delays and cancellations as airlines work to recover schedules. Passenger uncertainty persists due to limited airport communication after 20:00 BST, with travelers navigating rebooking and alternative routes amid flooding and weather-related complications.
