Nats Blames Software Defect for 2,000-Flight UK ATC Failure
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Sep 18
Nats Blames Software Defect for 2,000-Flight UK ATC Failure
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Sep 18
Summary
Nats said a software defect caused the UK air traffic control failure earlier this month that cancelled more than 2,000 flights and disrupted hundreds of thousands of passengers.
A millisecond fault in the system underpinning UK airspace management produced corrupted data, leaving controllers with reduced information and forcing traffic restrictions to preserve safety.
Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and Glasgow were among the airports hit, with some passengers stranded overseas or sleeping on airport floors during the disruption.
The explanation sharpens scrutiny of Nats' system resilience and chief executive Martin Rolfe after the government ruled out a cyberattack and the Defence Ministry denied a military aircraft was responsible.