A lightning strike on air traffic control equipment at London Luton Airport caused a suspension of flight operations between 17:40 and 19:15 BST on August 28, 2026. This disruption led to about 30 flights being cancelled or diverted during the period.
Severe Weather Compounds Disruption
The interruption coincided with severe thunderstorms and flash flooding affecting local roads and the airport approach. Flooding particularly impacted transport routes to and from the airport, hampering passenger access.
Flight Cancellations, Diversions, and Delays Continue
Several flights were rerouted, notably Wizz Air’s flight W95378 from Turin to Luton, which was diverted to Gatwick Airport, and flight W92601 from Prague to Luton, diverted to Stansted Airport.
Airlines continued to manage delays and cancellations as they worked to restore schedules after operations resumed.
Passenger Experiences Reflect Chaos and Uncertainty
Passengers faced cancellations, lengthy delays, and information shortages. Gary Nash from Barton-le-Clay had his Alicante-bound flight cancelled and travelled to Birmingham to catch an alternative route. He described the situation as chaotic, with potentially up to 1,000 affected passengers across cancelled flights.
Kika Rocha, whose Ibiza flight was cancelled, reported that airport customer service stopped at 20:00 BST, leaving passengers dependent on airport staff for assistance. Her rebooking switched her destination to another location in Spain the following day amid disorder inside the terminal.
Jeff Chan, 26, experienced a six-hour delay on his Venice-bound flight, affecting his hiking plans in Italy’s Dolomites. He noted worsening conditions near the airport due to flooding and widespread confusion among travellers, many with children, unaware of delay durations.
Official Statements Confirm Cause and Apologies
Luton Airport confirmed the operation suspension from 17:40 to 19:15 BST, attributing it to a lightning strike on air traffic control systems “resulting in a number of cancellations and diversions.” The airport acknowledged the severe weather’s role, including flash flooding on access roads and approach routes.
NATS, the UK’s air traffic control provider, verified that severe thunderstorms impacted Luton and
Stansted airports, announcing: “Flights to and from London Luton Airport have now resumed following an earlier suspension caused by a lightning strike affecting Air Traffic Control equipment.” They issued an apology for the disruption caused.
Wider Regional Weather Impact
Severe thunderstorms that hit Southeast England on August 28 affected multiple regional airports, including both Luton and Stansted. The resulting flash floods disrupted airport approaches and local transportation networks, contributing to widespread travel complications.
