Update given after air traffic control failure leaves UK airports in chaos

A ground stop for departures was implemented earlier today

The issues at the airports were first reported early on Tuesday afternoon (8 September) as aviation news site Air Live said that all flights from the Heathrow and Gatwick had been stopped following a technical failure in air traffic control (ATC) equipment.

Meanwhile, flight tracking data appeared to show the same issue at a number of other London airports.

Air Live report that a ground stop for departures was implemented at 12.48pm BST after the system failure disrupted ATC communications and equipement.

It said that airport management confirmed the temporary halt of outgoing flights while people worked on restoring the normal functionality.

The reports appear to backed up by current flight radar tracking sites, which show no planes departing the usually busy airports.

The issue was later reported to be affecting all of London airspace and beyond.

A statement from National Air Traffic Services (NATS) said: "We are investigating a technical issue which is causing some disruption to flight departures. Our engineers are on site and we will provide an update as soon as we can."

Flights backed up on the ground at Heathrow. Credit: Screenshot Flightradar24.

A London Gatwick spokesperson told JOE: “We are aware of a NATS technical issue that is currently affecting a number of UK airports, including London Gatwick.

Meanwhile, a Heathrow spokesperson told JOE: "The air traffic control service NATS is experiencing a technical issue which is impacting departing flights at UK airports. Arriving flights are not currently impacted.

"We are supporting our local NATS team in their efforts to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. We will provide updated information when we have it. We apologise to those disrupted and advise passengers to check with their airline for latest flight information."

“Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for more information regarding their flights.”

Now, it has been reported that traffic is being heavily regulated at airports in the London EGTT FIR.

Flightradar24 said in a social media post: "Arrivals and departures are being heavily regulated at airports in the London EGTT FIR due to ATC equipment issues. Eurocontrol lists 20:00 UTC as expected return to normal traffic."

This means normal operations are expected to return by 9pm tonight, however, the ripple effect of delays is expected to be significant.

The London EGTT FIR area covers all of England and Wales, meaning airports across the country have been affected.

For an extended period, only planes were landing with none to very few taking off with large gaps of time between them.

Flights backed up on the ground at Gatwick. Credit: Screenshot Flightradar24.

Passengers have also been posting about the delays on social media.

One person posted on X: " Currently sat on the tarmac in Gatwick for the last hour.

Another said: "Our flight is delayed sitting here in Gatwick."

One person at Heathrow wrote: "Stuck on a plane from Bilbao to the UK and the pilot has said that the whole UK air traffic control system is down. I don't know if this is in addition to the problems at gatwick and heathrow. We've been told to wait on the plane for 45 mins, if not it could be up to 5 hours."

Meanwhile, one passenger stuck at Luton wrote: "Flight delays from Luton airport. Currently projecting delays of 5 hours."