A technical failure in the flight data processing system operated by National Air Traffic Services (NATS) disrupted UK airspace on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, causing the cancellation of over 1,000 flights. The fault was first detected at 1:46 p.m. local time and was resolved around 4:40 p.m., resulting in nearly four hours of severely restricted flight operations across major UK airports.
Disruption Across Multiple UK Airports and Airlines
The failure affected air traffic control at airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Stansted, Luton, London City, and Edinburgh. Heathrow suspended all arrivals for the remainder of Tuesday night but reported normal flight operations by Wednesday, though delays continued
during recovery.
Ryanair canceled more than 50 flights and delayed over 65,000 passengers, estimating immediate losses of approximately £3 million (US$4.06 million). British Airways canceled upwards of 190 flights on Wednesday, while easyJet canceled around 200 flights. Air India diverted, delayed, or canceled multiple flights to and from the UK, and Qatar Airways experienced delays and rerouting.
Official Responses and Investigation Underway
NATS CEO Martin Rolfe apologized for the disruption, stating recovery took longer than expected. He confirmed no cyberattack was involved and pledged a full investigation into the technical failure. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander also ruled out cyberattack and demanded assurances regarding system reliability.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said it expects a comprehensive report from NATS before deciding on any further regulatory actions. Ryanair’s COO Neal McMahon called for Rolfe’s resignation, criticizing the handling of the disruption, while Wizz Air described NATS as “simply not fit for purpose” in its current state. Rolfe defended NATS’s systems as adequate despite the outage.
Recent History of UK Air Traffic Control Failures
This event marks the third major failure in NATS’s system in just over three years. Previous incidents include a flight plan processing fault in August 2023 that caused cancellations over several days, and a radar fault in July 2025 that canceled
more than 150 flights. Heathrow, the world’s seventh busiest airport by passenger volume in 2025 with over 84 million travelers, has also experienced separate operational challenges, including a temporary closure in March 2025 due to a fire at an electrical substation.
Passenger Rights and Ongoing Operational Status
Passengers affected by cancellations are entitled to assistance and rerouting under UK regulations; however, the incident is classified as an extraordinary circumstance, which generally exempts airlines from paying fixed compensation. Ryanair reported passenger delays of up to eight hours for some flights. Heathrow resumed normal operations by Wednesday following the suspension of arrivals on Tuesday night, but airlines continue
to manage delays caused by disruptions to aircraft and crew positioning.
