Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has stated that the recent technical failure of the UK's air traffic control system was "avoidable." The outage, which occurred on Tuesday and lasted for four hours, led to widespread travel disruption, with more than 2,000 flights cancelled across the country.

Following a meeting with Nats chief executive Martin Rolfe, Alexander confirmed that a cyberattack has been ruled out as the cause of the incident. However, she emphasized the need for "tough questions about resilience" regarding the systems managed by Nats, a public-private partnership in which the government holds a 49% stake. While the government has expressed continued confidence in Rolfe, some airlines have called for his resignation.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has been tasked with conducting an independent review, with an update expected in six months. Additionally, Nats is required to submit its own investigation report within one week. This incident marks the third major technical failure for the organization in three years, following significant disruptions in 2023 and early 2025.

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Airlines UK, the industry body representing carriers, has formally registered its concerns, with chief executive Tim Alderslade noting that airlines often bear the financial burden for such systemic failures. Regarding passenger rights, the CAA indicated that because the disruption is likely to be classified as an "extraordinary circumstance," travelers may not be entitled to standard compensation for their cancellations or delays, though airlines remain responsible for passenger care.

Operations at major hubs, including Heathrow and Gatwick, have begun to recover, though airports continue to warn of lingering knock-on effects as flight crews and aircraft are repositioned.

Source: BBC News