Wire flash
OtherUK air traffic control technical fault cancels ~300 flights at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Source reporting is collected, normalized, translated or condensed automatically when needed.
- Automatically published source-backed update
A technical malfunction in British air traffic control caused widespread disruption at major airports across Great Britain on September 8, 2026, with effects extending to Germany and other European countries. The London airports Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted, as well as Manchester and Birmingham airports, reported outages and flight cancellations. According to Flightradar24, approximately 300 flights were canceled by early evening. The disruption also impacted German airports, with flights from Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, and Munich to London being canceled. Munich announced no further flights to London on Tuesday, advising travelers to book overnight stays. The air traffic control company Nats identified the problem as an issue with the flight processing system and stated they were working to resolve it, though repairs could take time. Heathrow Airport issued a statement on X apologizing to affected passengers and advising them to check with their airlines for updates. Birmingham Airport also acknowledged the technical aviation issue affecting airspace in southern UK and apologized for inconvenience.
Source report
A traveler arrives at Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport. Source: Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP / dpa
A technical malfunction in British air traffic control has caused chaos at several airports across the United Kingdom, with ripple effects reaching Germany and other European countries.
Affected Airports
The following airports reported outages and flight cancellations:
- London: Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted
- Manchester
- Birmingham
According to the flight data portal Flightradar24, approximately 300 flights had been canceled by early evening.
Impact on German and European Travel
The disruption extended beyond the UK:
- Flights from Frankfurt and Düsseldorf to London were canceled, as shown on airport websites.
- Similar cancellations occurred at airports in other countries, including Zurich.
- In Munich, announcements indicated that no further flights to London would operate on Tuesday. Travelers were advised to book overnight accommodation, according to a dpa reporter.
Statement from Air Traffic Control
Nats, the company responsible for air traffic control in many parts of the UK, confirmed the issue:
"It was a problem with the flight processing system. They are working on fixing it. However, this could take some time."
Airport Responses
Heathrow Airport posted on X:
"We are supporting our local Nats team in their efforts to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. We will provide updated information as soon as we have it. We apologize to those affected and advise passengers to check with their airline for the latest flight information."
Birmingham Airport also wrote on X:
"There is currently a technical aviation issue affecting airspace in the south of the UK, affecting a number of departures. We apologize for any inconvenience. Travelers traveling today should continue to arrive in accordance with airline advice and contact their airline directly for the latest flight information and updates."
Reporting by doli with dpa
Source
Nachrichten - WELTWestern
Part of this Story
UK air traffic control glitch cancels 2,000 flights, causing widespread travel chaos