Flight disruption 'not caused by cyber attack', says air traffic control boss

Nats, the UK’s air traffic control provider, said widespread flight disruption on Tuesday (September 8) was not caused by a cyber attack. More than 1,300 flights to and from UK airports were cancelled after a system issue affected Nats, which provides services to 15 UK airports. The disruption carried into Wednesday morning (September 9), with further delays and cancellations expected as airlines absorb downstream impacts at airports including Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. FlightRadar reported by 6am that 246 flights had been cancelled at Heathrow and 33 at Gatwick. Nats CEO Martin Rolfe told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme that cyber had been ruled out and that a “very, very thorough” investigation would follow. A Sky News report said some stranded passengers spent the night on cold floors at Terminal 5, and Gatwick said flights had resumed but service normalization would take time.