UK air traffic outage leaves hundreds of thousands stranded amid flight cancellations

A technical fault in the UK’s air-traffic control system disrupted flight operations on Tuesday and Wednesday, affecting an estimated hundreds of thousands of passengers. The outage forced airlines to cancel or delay flights, leaving many travellers stranded at airports and abroad.

NATS, the national air-traffic provider, said operations have now stabilised, but airlines warned that knock-on effects could continue. Passengers were urged to verify their flight status before heading to the airport. NATS chief Martin Rolfe issued an apology and met with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, who requested a full investigation.

Among those affected were newlyweds Sasha and James Graham, whose Gatwick-to-Madeira flight was cancelled. They spent three hours in a Wetherspoons pub before rebooking. In the baggage reclaim area, Phil White described the scene as chaotic, with all bags from cancelled flights placed on a single carousel, creating long queues and heightened tension.

Travelers also reported sleeping on airport floors and in hotel conference rooms across Europe as they awaited alternative arrangements. Sukie Perera, stranded in Turkey, said communication at the airport was poor, while Paul Willows described a makeshift sleeping area for about 80 families in a Greek hotel. Airlines remain obligated to transport passengers on alternative services or provide refunds for cancelled flights.