Holidaymakers across the UK are facing significant travel disruption after a major technical fault grounded all outbound flights. A radar failure at the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) control centre in Swanwick, Southampton brought air traffic to a halt, leaving passengers stranded and airports in disarray.
NATS has not ruled out cyber interference or hostile foreign activity but confirmed the issue was radar-related. A backup system was activated swiftly, but not before extensive delays and cancellations had already impacted travel plans. More than 150 flights were cancelled, and delays of up to five hours were reported before operations resumed.
Passenger Outrage and Calls for Resignation
The disruption triggered a wave of frustration among passengers, some of whom missed weddings, long-planned holidays, or were left without accommodation. Ryanair’s Chief Operating Officer Neal McMahon called for the resignation of Martin Rolfe, CEO of NATS, citing repeated failures under his leadership.
This incident echoes previous air traffic control issues: in August 2023, over 700,000 passengers were affected by a similar failure, while a fire at a power substation in March shut down Heathrow and disrupted 270,000 journeys.
Passengers Abandoned and Left to Fend for Themselves
Many travelers found themselves stranded both in the UK and abroad. One British family, stuck in Croatia after easyJet cancelled their flight, said they were left to sleep in Dubrovnik airport without assistance. “They just told us to use the app, then disappeared,” said the father, who called for Rolfe’s dismissal.
John Carr from Stourbridge, heading to Norway as best man at his brother’s wedding, was devastated after his Heathrow flight was cancelled post check-in. “We had no prior warning. It’s a nightmare,” he said, echoing concerns about the lack of communication.
His friend James Hedges added, “We had passed security and were waiting in the departure lounge when the news came. It’s a complete mess.”
Weddings, Holidays and Special Moments Ruined
Asha, 18, from Manchester, said her first solo trip across Europe was ruined when her easyJet flight to Amsterdam turned back mid-air after 50 minutes. Others, like Monica Clare, 68, missed key family events. She was due to fly from Heathrow to Ireland for a Friday wedding but was told the flight was cancelled after being stranded for nearly three hours.
“Hotel and car hire were booked for tonight, but now it’s likely we’ll miss the entire wedding,” she said.
Durand Meachem from North Carolina, on a world tour for his 50th birthday with his family, also had his plans disrupted. Chris Birch, another passenger, described spending five hours at Gatwick only to have his family holiday cancelled due to a lack of cabin crew. “Our plane was ready. We were just missing the crew,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Airlines, Airports and Authorities React
Air traffic control crews were first notified of the radar outage at 2:30 p.m. According to The Sun, normal operations resumed around 4:43 p.m., but residual delays persisted. NATS issued a statement saying systems were restored and they were working to minimize further disruption.
British Airways acknowledged that most of their flights were affected, while Birmingham Airport confirmed widespread suspensions. Later updates limited BA’s Heathrow flight operations to 32 per hour, instead of the usual 45, until 7:15 p.m.
By 10 p.m., aviation analytics firm Cirium reported that 84 outbound and 71 inbound UK flights had been cancelled.
Advice for Affected Travelers
Consumer rights group Which? advised that while passengers are unlikely to receive compensation—since the issue is classified as an “extraordinary circumstance”—they are entitled to meals, accommodation, or reimbursement if they keep receipts.
Deputy editor Naomi Leach said: “Even if compensation is not available, passengers have a right to care, including food and overnight stays.”
Government Monitoring Ongoing Impact
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander urged travelers to consult their airlines and airports for the latest updates, warning that disruption could continue. The Department for Transport stated it is working closely with NATS to investigate the root cause and assess system resilience.
