Air Traffic Confusion: Technical Glitch Halts UK Flights

A technical glitch at Britain's air traffic control disrupted flights, affecting major airports like Heathrow. NATS confirmed systems are back online; flights are resuming. Passengers were advised to check with airlines as airports clear backlogs. Previous outages in 2023 raised concerns over contingency planning.

A technical issue affected Britain's air traffic control on Wednesday, causing disruptions at major airports, including Heathrow. Although the problem was later resolved, the event highlighted vulnerabilities within the system.

The UK's National Air Traffic Services (NATS) reported that their systems are now fully operational. Departures have resumed, and efforts are underway to safely address the backlog. NATS issued an apology to those impacted by the disruption.

Airports such as Gatwick and Edinburgh also experienced delays, with all locations now reporting resumed operations. The outage underscores concerns about contingency plans following an earlier malfuncion in August 2023, which resulted in significant airline costs.

(With inputs from agencies.)