Air travel chaos: Passengers left stranded as UK air traffic control system fails

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【Summary】Hundreds of flights to and from the UK were cancelled due to a technical issue with air traffic control. Delays and cancellations are expected to persist, causing significant disruptions for passengers. Both Belfast International Airport and Belfast City Airport advised customers to check with their airlines for the latest flight information. The issue has been resolved, but flights will continue to be disrupted.

FutureCar Staff Aug 29, 2023 12:16 AM PT

Air travel chaos: Passengers left stranded as UK air traffic control system fails

One flight from Northern Ireland was delayed by almost 11 hours, causing an NI woman to miss her heart transplant check-up. The delay was a result of a UK-wide air traffic control failure that led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights during the bank holiday weekend. According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, by Monday afternoon, 232 departing flights and 271 arriving flights had been canceled across UK airports.

The National Air Traffic Control (NATS) has since resolved the technical issue that caused the delays and cancellations. However, they have advised that delays and cancellations may still persist. Both Belfast International Airport and Belfast City Airport have released statements urging customers to contact their airlines for the latest flight information.

NATS, the leading provider of air traffic control services in the UK, has stated that they have identified and remedied the technical issue affecting air traffic control systems. They are now working with airlines and airports to support the affected flights. Despite the resolution of the issue, flights are expected to remain significantly disrupted for the rest of the day.

Passengers have expressed frustration and inconvenience due to the disruptions caused by the air traffic control failure. One woman from Cookstown, who had a heart transplant, missed her hospital appointment in Newcastle after her flight was canceled. Another passenger, a Belfast man, described the chaos and long wait times on his delayed flight from Alicante to Belfast.

The NATS has apologized for the disruption and emphasized their priority of ensuring the safety of all flights. They are actively working to minimize the impact and are exploring solutions to rectify the technical issue as quickly as possible.

The disruptions caused by the air traffic control failure have had a knock-on effect on flights to and from Ireland. Irish Minister of State for Transport, Jack Chambers, has warned of significant delays and advised passengers to contact their airlines for updates.