UK Air Traffic Control Glitch Triggers Over 100 Flight Cancellations, Thousands of Passengers Stranded
Story: Reported by Okafor Joseph and Rita Uzuh for SpringnewsNG Media Limited.
London, UK – July 31, 2025: Travel chaos gripped UK airports on Wednesday after a technical fault at the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) triggered the cancellation of more than 100 flights, leaving thousands of passengers stranded across the country.
The glitch, which temporarily suspended flights at major airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff, and Edinburgh, caused widespread delays and disruptions. According to NATS, the issue was resolved within 20 minutes, but the knock-on effects lasted for hours.
A spokesperson for NATS confirmed that the problem was radar-related and stressed there was no evidence of a cyberattack. Aviation analytics firm Cirium reported that by Wednesday evening, 67 departures and 55 arrivals had been officially cancelled across UK airports.
Passenger Frustration and Diversions
The sudden disruption left many passengers scrambling for alternatives. John Carr, 35, who was traveling to Norway for his brother’s wedding, described the experience as “rubbish”, claiming he received no prior warning from the airline or airport.
Other travelers tried to remain upbeat despite the chaos. David, a passenger on an EasyJet flight from Crete to Birmingham that was diverted to Paris, said everyone on board was “in good spirits”.
Airlines and NATS have apologized to passengers, promising to work through the flight backlog as quickly as possible. However, aviation experts warn that rescheduled flights and knock-on delays could continue into the coming days.
The UK’s aviation network has faced multiple disruptions in recent years, and this latest air traffic control outage highlights the fragility of travel infrastructure during peak summer months.
