Flight chaos explained: What caused this MAJOR meltdown and can you claim anything back?

Flight chaos has continued into a second day as the UK's airports deal with the fallout from yesterday's major technical failure that brought Britain's air traffic control system to a standstill.Hundreds more flights have been cancelled this morning, after around 1,300 were cancelled to and from UK airports on Tuesday.It comes after a technical issue hit the National Air Traffic Services (NATS), which provides air traffic control services to 15 airports across the country.Airlines have been warning of further cancellations and delays as they attempt to recover from the chaos and reposition aircraft and crew. If you've been affected, you will undoubtedly have many questions, and will be eager to know what's happening with your journey – as well as what your rights are when it comes to routes and compensation.Here, we reveal everything you need to know about the ongoing aviation crisis...What caused the flight chaos? Passengers at UK airports have been affected by disruption after a system issue hit NATS, which provides air traffic control services to 15 UK hubsTens of thousands of passengers were caught up in the travel mayhem after a system issue hit NATS.Chaos continued today with more cancellations and delays as airlines deal with the knock-on impact at hubs including Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Stansted.Some 246 flights had been cancelled at Heathrow by 6am this morning, while Gatwick passengers faced 33 cancellations, according to FlightRadar.NATS suffered an issue with its 'flight processing system', which has only now been resolved. However, the operator warned that delays are expected to continue as it tries to 'clear a backlog of flights'.'Recovery from today's system issue has taken longer than we had hoped,' it said yesterday.'Our system issue is now resolved, we are operating normally and working as hard as possible to clear the backlog of flights.'We are truly sorry for the ongoing flight disruption. We know this is hugely frustrating and apologise unreservedly. Passengers should continue to check with their airline.'Do we know why this happened?The boss of the UK's main air traffic control provider has 'ruled out' a cyber attack as the cause of a technical problem as widespread flight disruption continues today.Martin Rolfe, the under-fire chief executive of NATS, promised there would be a 'very, very thorough investigation' into the issue.He will speak to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander today after facing calls to resign following the cancellation of some 1,300 flights to and from UK airports yesterday.Mr Rolfe told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'We have at this point ruled out cyber, we don't believe it was a cyber attack. Delays and cancellations have affected travellers, with some being forced to sleep at airports'My focus and that of the team has been on both getting our system operating back up normally, which it is now, but there's obviously a huge tail to the disruption and we'll be working on that through the course of today.'And then our attention will turn to exactly what's happened in this particular incident. What I will say is I don't believe we've ever seen an incident happen more than once, so this will be something different that we've never seen in 50 years of operation.'How do you know if your flight has been affected?You will need to check with your individual airline.Heathrow had already recorded 246 cancellations by 6am on Wednesday, according to FlightRadar24, while 33 flights had been cancelled at Gatwick.Passengers travelling through Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Stansted have been warned to check their flights before setting off, with the disruption expected to take time to clear.Heathrow Airport said on Wednesday morning that flights were operating, but warned passengers that problems could continue throughout the day.'Following yesterday's NATS technical issue, flights are operating today, but some disruption may continue as airlines reposition aircraft and crew,' it said. Before heading to the airport, check whether your journey has been impacted'Please check your flight status with your airline before travelling to the airport and only travel if your flight is confirmed to be operating.'We apologise to those affected and have extra colleagues across our terminals to support passengers while we work with NATS and airline partners to restore normal operations as quickly as possible.' Should you still go to the airport?Airports across the UK are still open.You should check with your individual airline and airport before heading to the airport – some will have updates online, and many will have contacted you directly. Passengers have been urged to check directly with their airline before travelling to the airport and only set off if their flight is confirmed to be operating. What are your rights if your flight is delayed?In the event that your flight has been delayed by at least three hours, your airline must provide you with food and drink.They may provide you with a voucher for this.If not, make sure to keep hold of your receipts as you may be able to reclaim some of the costs later on. If your delay is overnight, your airline should help you with accommodation. Alternatively, you can book this yourself, but keep costs reasonable and keep your receipts to improve your chances of a refund. If the delay is more than five hours, you can choose not to travel and receive a refund. What are your rights if your flight is cancelled? If your flight is cancelled, your airline will find you another flight home or refund you.Simon McCulloch, chief commercial officer at travel insurance company Staysure, has explained what passengers are entitled to under UK261 and what's typically covered by travel insurance. You'll need to check with your specific airline for details, but compensation is unlikelySimon said: 'Your airline should be your first port of call. Under UK261 regulations, in the event of a cancellation, you're entitled to a full refund or an alternative flight, and delays of more than three hours may also qualify for compensation. 'This kind of disruption is typically covered under standard travel insurance policies, for things like reasonable additional accommodation, transport costs, missed connections, certain expenses caused by a lengthy delay and potentially cancellation/abandonment, depending on the policy wording. 'It's worth checking your policy's definition of 'travel delay,' 'missed departure', 'abandonment' or 'travel disruption' as cover levels vary. 'If you're travelling today, check your flight status directly with your airline before heading to the airport, and keep receipts for any costs you incur as a result of the delay.' Will you receive compensation? This is unlikely, due to the circumstances of the chaos.Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel said: 'These air traffic control disruptions will leave many travellers feeling concerned about flight delays or possible cancellations.'If your flight is cancelled or delayed, you're unlikely to be owed compensation by the airline as the technical issue is considered an 'extraordinary circumstance' and out of the airline's control. 'However, you do have a right to food or a hotel stay depending on the length of the delay, but be sure you keep the receipts as you will need to claim this back from the airline.'If you are due to travel today or tomorrow, check the advice from your airport, tour operator, airline apps, or airport social media feeds for the most up to date advice.'Have YOU been affected by the delays? Contact erin.waks@dailymail.co.uk