Heathrow Hit by Major Air Traffic Control Failure as More Than 2,000 Flights Cancelled

LONDON — September 10, 2026: London Heathrow has been caught up in one of the UK’s most significant aviation disruptions in recent years after a technical failure in the country’s air traffic-control system caused widespread flight cancellations and delays.

The disruption began on Tuesday after a problem affected the flight data processing system operated by NATS (National Air Traffic Services). More than 2,000 flights across the UK were cancelled over two days, affecting hundreds of thousands of passengers and creating major operational challenges for airlines and airports.

Heathrow was among the airports hardest hit, with arrivals temporarily suspended during the disruption. Although NATS later implemented a fix, the impact continued as airlines struggled to reposition aircraft and crews and clear the backlog of disrupted flights. Heathrow said operations were recovering but warned passengers that further knock-on disruption could continue.

The failure has also triggered growing questions about the resilience of Britain’s air traffic-control infrastructure. NATS chief executive Martin Rolfe has been summoned by UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, with the government demanding an investigation into what caused the failure. NATS has ruled out a cyberattack.

For passengers travelling through Heathrow, the airport is advising travellers to check directly with their airline before heading to the airport, as schedules may continue to change while airlines restore normal operations.

The disruption highlights how a failure in a single critical aviation system can quickly ripple across airports, airlines and international flight networks.