Departures from a number of UK airports have been affected by a technical problem at air traffic control provider Nats, according to the BBC. One BBC headline named Heathrow and Gatwick among the airports involved.
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Key facts
- A technical problem has affected air traffic control provider Nats.
- Departures from a number of UK airports have been affected, according to the BBC.
- A BBC headline named Heathrow and Gatwick among the airports affected.
- The BBC reported on the disruption on 8 September 2026.
Departures from a number of UK airports have been affected by a technical problem impacting air traffic control provider Nats, according to the BBC.
One BBC report was headlined “Heathrow and Gatwick among airports hit by air traffic control problems”, naming those two airports among those affected, though the report’s text referred only to “a number of airports” without further detail.
The BBC first reported the issue in the early afternoon and updated its coverage into the evening on 8 September 2026, with a later report headlined “Major UK airports hit by air traffic control problems”.
Both BBC reports described the cause as a technical problem affecting Nats, the UK’s air traffic control provider, which resulted in disruption to departing flights.
No further details on the scale of the disruption, the number of flights affected, or the timeline for a resolution were provided in the available reporting. Individual airline responses were also not included in the sources.
Why it matters
Nats manages UK airspace, and technical problems affecting it can disrupt departing flights. The available sources do not detail the scale of the disruption or how long it lasted.
Frequently asked questions
Which airports were affected?
Heathrow and Gatwick were among a number of UK airports affected by the technical problem, according to the BBC.
What caused the disruption?
The BBC reported that a technical problem affecting air traffic control provider Nats disrupted departures.
When did the problem occur?
The BBC reported on the disruption on 8 September 2026, with coverage continuing from the early afternoon into the evening.
Timeline
- Major UK airports hit by air traffic control problems
BBC Business: Departures from a number of airports have been affected by a technical problem affecting air traffic control provider Nats.
- Heathrow and Gatwick among airports hit by air traffic control problems
BBC Business: Departures from a number of airports have been affected by a technical problem affecting air traffic control provider Nats.