More flights to be cancelled after knock-on effect from air traffic control chaos

| Senior Live News reporter Published September 9, 2026 6:43am Updated September 9, 2026 6:51am To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video UK travellers brace themselves for a second day of misery as the air traffic control issue is set to cause more flight cancellations. Tuesday marked a difficult day for the aviation industry and passengers as a technical issue grounded hundreds of planes across major airports. Passengers trying to reach holidays and weddings waited hours on stranded aircraft, only to be told to come back in the morning. The havoc stemmed from a technical system glitch affecting Nats, which provides air traffic control services to 15 UK airports. UK’s biggest airports were plunged into chaos after the Nats issue (Picture: AFP via Getty Images) Sign up for all of the latest stories Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens. Passengers at Gatwick Airport were stranded after departing flights were halted due to the ATC system glitch (Picture: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire) So far today, 177 flights have been cancelled, mostly at Heathrow Airport, according to tracking website Flightradar24. Tens of thousands of passengers were affected yesterday, with Ryanair alone reporting that more than 65,000 of its passengers were caught up. Airlines will continue to grapple with the effects today after aircraft and crew have been left out of place, with passengers urged to check with their airline on the status of their flight. Around 1,300 flights were axed across UK airports yesterday (Picture: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire) The chief of Nats, Martin Rolfe, was summoned to meet with the Transport Secretary today. Speaking to Sky News, he said he accepts ‘full responsibility,’ but refused to answer whether he was considering his position after the glitch. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander will face the Commons after speaking with Rolfe for the second reading of the Civil Aviation Bill. British former racing driver Martin Brundle said he was stranded on a planeto ‘nowhere’ at Heathrow for ‘nine hours and counting.’ He said on social media: ‘At a remote parking bay, no food throughout, and mother/baby and a person with a medical condition desperate to get off. As is everyone else. Toilets no longer available as blocked. No sign of steps or buses. And that’s before the wait for luggage.’ Nats said in its latest update on Tuesday evening: ‘Work is continuing to assist airlines and airports recover from today’s disruption. ‘This has been a very complex recovery and has created difficulties for the whole aviation network, from which it will take time to recover. ‘We apologise again for the disruption caused. Passengers should check with their airline on the status of their flight tonight or tomorrow.’ Have you been affected? Please email webnews@metro.co.uk Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page. Arrow MORE: Heathrow and Gatwick ground planes: Your rights if your flight is delayed or cancelled Arrow MORE: This ‘appalling’ airport is officially the UK’s worst — here’s where to fly from instead Arrow MORE: Ryanair calls EES rollout a ‘shambles’ amid fresh fears of long queues News Updates Stay on top of the headlines with daily email updates.