More than 300 flights were cancelled across the United Kingdom on September 8, 2026, as a technical problem with the National Air Traffic Service (Nats) flight processing system disrupted departures and arrivals at multiple airports including London Heathrow and Gatwick.
Flight Cancellations and Affected Airports
Data from Cirium showed that around 90 flights at Heathrow and Gatwick had been cancelled by 4:15pm, with a total of approximately 300 cancellations nationwide. Airports impacted include Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Stansted, London City, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Bristol, and Belfast City.
Ryanair reported over 65,000 passengers experienced delays and confirmed that 50 of its flights were cancelled. Eurocontrol noted that several
inbound flights were held at foreign airports due to the disruption, with the situation expected to persist into the evening.
Timeline and Response by Nats
Nats first announced an investigation into a technical issue affecting flight departures at 1:46pm. The problem was identified within their flight processing system, and a fix was implemented at 4:40pm. Despite this, Nats stated that recovery efforts were only beginning, emphasizing ongoing coordination with airlines and airports to resolve delays.
Official Statements and Passenger Advisories
Heathrow Airport initially said arrivals were unaffected but later confirmed that the disruption was impacting both arriving and departing flights across UK airports. They urged passengers to check with their
airlines before traveling.
British Airways acknowledged experiencing some operational disruption and was contacting affected customers directly. Belfast City Airport warned of possible flight impacts due to the Nats issue, while Birmingham Airport advised travelers to adhere to their airline’s check-in guidance and seek updates from airlines.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander apologized for the disruption and confirmed technicians were actively fixing the problem. She said: “I’m aware of a technical issue impacting flights at airports including Heathrow and Gatwick. Technicians have identified the issue and are fixing it as we speak. I know this will be frustrating for passengers and I’m
sorry.”
Airline Criticism and Calls for Change
Ryanair’s Chief Operating Officer Neal McMahon criticized Nats leadership following the third major incident in just over three years. He called for the resignation of Nats CEO Martin Rolfe and for the government to appoint new management, stating: “Families travelling on holiday, people travelling for work and thousands of visitors to the UK have once again paid the price for Nats’ abhorrent failure.”
Wizz Air also condemned Nats, labeling the service as “simply not fit for purpose in its current form” and stating that a critical national infrastructure provider should not repeatedly halt the aviation system.
Background of Repeated Disruptions
This incident follows
previous significant outages, including a complete flight grounding in August 2023 and a large-scale outage in March 2025 caused by a separate Heathrow power failure. The August 2023 event prompted a parliamentary inquiry, reflecting ongoing concerns about Nats’ reliability and management.
Impact on Passengers and Travel Advice
Passengers are experiencing extensive delays and cancellations across UK airports, with Ryanair alone reporting over 65,000 delayed travelers. Airlines and airports recommend that passengers confirm their flight status before traveling to airports, as delays have continued since early afternoon and are expected to persist into the evening.
