8 September 2026ATC / airport infrastructure failure

UK air traffic control outage disrupts flights, 8-9 September

WHAT'S HAPPENING

The NATS technical failure began on 8 September and disrupted flights across the United Kingdom.
Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and other major UK airports reported cancellations and delays, while some departures and arrivals were temporarily suspended.
More than 1,000 flights were reported cancelled, with disruption also affecting services between the UK and airports elsewhere in Europe and beyond.
NATS applied a fix and flights gradually resumed, but airlines and airports warned of continuing disruption on 9 September.
NATS said the failure was not caused by a cyberattack.
Flights resumed after the technical failure, but cancellations reached about 2,000 and recovery disruption continued as the government ordered an independent CAA review and gave NATS one week to report.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOUR CLAIM

COMPENSATION: UNLIKELY — CARE STILL OWED

A failure of air traffic control or airport infrastructure is outside the airline's control and normally counts as extraordinary, so compensation is usually not owed. Care, rerouting, and refund rights are unaffected — and expenses you reasonably incur when care is not provided are reimbursable.

Basis: Recital 14/15, Regulation 261/2004

WHATEVER THE CAUSE, YOU'RE OWED

Meals and refreshments after 2–4 hours' wait (by flight distance), plus hotel and transfers if you are delayed overnight.
On cancellation: the choice between rerouting as soon as possible, rerouting at a later date, or a full refund within 7 days.
If the airline provides no care, keep receipts — reasonable expenses are reimbursable.
These duties apply even when the disruption itself is extraordinary.

CAUGHT IN THIS RIGHT NOW?

Open the Black Box and record what the airline tells you — especially the reason. The exact wording decides the extraordinary-circumstances question later.
Ask for rerouting in writing (app chat or email), and keep every receipt.
Once you know your final delay, check your flight and generate the letter.
Airline already replied with an excuse? Decode it.

This page explains the rules that generally apply to this type of disruption. Airlines assess each claim on its own facts; eligibility for a specific flight depends on its circumstances.