Technical Glitch Disrupts UK Air Traffic, Cyberattack Ruled Out

Sep 10, 2026

71 min

Sep 10, 2026 02:30

Cyberattack ruled out in UK air traffic glitch that hit hundreds of flights

## Major Flight Disruptions in the UK

A significant technical issue disrupted air traffic across the UK, leading to the cancellation of nearly 400 flights on Wednesday. This followed the cancellation of 1,746 flights the previous day. The majority of these disruptions affected London Heathrow, one of Europe's busiest airports.

## Investigation Underway

The National Air Traffic Services (NATS) has ruled out a cyberattack as the cause of the glitch. Martin Rolfe, head of NATS, confirmed that a thorough investigation is being conducted to determine the exact cause of the incident. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has called for an independent review to ensure the reliability of air traffic control systems.

## Impact on Passengers

Over 330,000 passengers were affected during the two days of disruptions. Many experienced delays, while others faced cancellations. British Airways reported that 85,000 of its customers were impacted, with nearly 550 flights canceled.

## Passenger Experiences

Passengers described chaotic scenes at airports, with some spending hours on planes or in terminals. Hotels near airports were fully booked, leaving some travelers to sleep at the airport. The aviation regulator indicated that compensation might not be available due to the extraordinary nature of the circumstances.

## Previous Incidents

This week's events follow a similar technical issue in July last year, which also led to widespread flight cancellations. In 2023, the UK experienced its worst air systems failure in years, affecting over 700,000 passengers.

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