A lightning strike on the air traffic control systems at London Luton Airport on August 27, 2026, forced the suspension of flight operations between 17:40 and 19:15 BST. This disruption affected flight landings and departures during the early evening period.
Flight Cancellations and Diversions at London Luton Airport
Approximately 30 flights faced cancellations or diversions due to the suspension. Notable diversions involved Wizz Air flights: flight W95378 from Turin was redirected to Gatwick Airport, while flight W92601 from Prague was rerouted to Stansted Airport.
Severe Weather Conditions in South East England
The lightning strike occurred amid severe thunderstorms that impacted London Luton Airport and surrounding areas, including flash flooding on local roads and the airport
approach. NATS, the air traffic control provider, reported that storms disrupted services at both Luton and Stansted airports.
Passenger Disruptions and Rebooking Challenges
Passengers experienced significant delays, cancellations, and difficulties obtaining information. Gary Nash of Barton-le-Clay, Bedfordshire, had his flight to Alicante cancelled and traveled to Birmingham to catch an alternative flight. Kika Rocha from London described her cancelled flight to Ibiza as a “nightmare,” noting customer service ended by 20:00 BST and that she was rebooked on a different Spanish destination.
Jeff Chan, 26, faced a six-hour delay on his flight to Venice for a hiking trip in the Dolomites. He reported cancellations of
local buses due to flooding and confusion among passengers regarding delay durations.
Official Statements and Ongoing Operational Effects
A London Luton Airport spokesperson confirmed the suspension and the resumption of flights after 19:15 BST, expressing apologies for the disruption and urging passengers to check with airlines. The spokesperson stated the disruption “coincided with a period of severe weather across the area, resulting in flash flooding on local roads, and the airport approach.”
A NATS spokesperson said, “Severe thunderstorms have affected parts of the south east this evening, causing significant disruption to flights at London Luton and Stansted airports.” They acknowledged the lightning strike affected air traffic
control equipment and apologized for the disruption.
Despite operations resuming, airlines continued to face delays and cancellations as they worked to restore normal schedules.
