UK Flights Chaos: Air Traffic Control Glitch Grounds Hundreds! What's Happening?
Hundreds of flights across the UK faced major disruptions on Wednesday due to a technical issue at the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) centre. The glitch led to temporary suspension of flights at major airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff, and Edinburgh, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and frustrated.
What Went Wrong?
According to NATS, the "technical issue" was resolved within 20 minutes, but the ripple effect caused hours of chaos. Passengers reported a lack of communication from airlines and airports, exacerbating the stress of cancelled and delayed flights. While NATS has apologised and is working to clear the backlog, the incident has raised serious questions about the resilience of the UK's air traffic control infrastructure.
Aviation analytics firm Cirium reports that 67 departures and 55 arrivals were cancelled across UK airports. This recent incident follows a similar disruption in March when a fire at an electrical substation near Heathrow Airport caused widespread flight cancellations and cost airlines millions.
Calls for Accountability
The recent disruption has sparked calls for the resignation of NATS chief executive, Martin Rolfe. Ryanair, in particular, has been vocal in its criticism, accusing Rolfe of mismanagement and highlighting the lack of lessons learned from the August 2023 NATS system outage. Passengers are bearing the brunt of these failures, facing delays and disruptions to their travel plans.
What are Your Rights?
If your flight has been cancelled or delayed, it's important to know your rights. The UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) provides information on passenger rights, including compensation and assistance for delayed or cancelled flights. Check their website for detailed information.
Is it a Cyber Attack?
NATS has stated that the issue was radar-related and there is no evidence to suggest a cyber attack. However, the incident underscores the importance of robust and secure air traffic control systems to prevent future disruptions.
Stay tuned to NewsRpt.com for further updates as the situation develops.