Disruption in airplane departures at significant British airports due to a problem in the air traffic control system.
UK Airports Disrupted by Technical Malfunction at NATS
A major disruption hit airports across the United Kingdom on July 30, 2025, due to a technical failure at the Swanwick air traffic control centre operated by NATS (National Air Traffic Services). This issue led to significant delays, cancellations, and diversions for thousands of passengers during peak summer travel.
The technical malfunction caused the London control area to limit the number of aircraft allowed to fly, resulting in widespread chaos at airports. Outgoing flights at several major hubs, including London's Heathrow, Gatwick, City airports, and Edinburgh Airport in Scotland, were temporarily grounded. Heathrow Airport paused all departing flights during the outage, while London City Airport and Edinburgh Airport reported suspended services.
NATS engineers worked diligently to resolve the problem, and the system was restored after approximately 20 minutes. However, due to the magnitude of the disruption, it took longer for flight operations to return to normal as planes and crews were out of position. NATS communicated closely with airlines and airports to manage the situation and minimise further delays.
As of now, normal operations are gradually resuming in the London area. Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest updates on their flights. The cause of the technical malfunction and the current status of airports outside the London area remain unknown, with all airports awaiting updates from NATS.
NATS has confirmed that engineers have resolved the issue, and they are working to ensure a smooth return to normal operations across the UK. The statement was posted on their official platforms.
[1] NATS Press Release, July 30, 2025. [2] BBC News, July 30, 2025.
The technical failure at NATS disrupted technology systems, causing general-news headlines about widespread chaos at UK airports. Although the issue was quickly resolved, delays, cancellations, and diversions continued due to planes and crews being out of position.
