UK Air Traffic Disruptions Not Caused by Cyberattack, NATS CEO Confirms
Martin Rolfe, the CEO of the UK's National Air Traffic Services (NATS), has confirmed that a cyberattack was not the cause of the major disruptions experienced at British airports on Tuesday. In an interview with the BBC, Rolfe stated, "We will be doing a very, very thorough and full investigation." The disruptions led to the cancellation and delay of over 1,000 flights due to issues with the flight processing system, which have since been resolved. However, on Wednesday, more than 150 flights were still canceled, with further delays anticipated throughout the day.
Heathrow Airport indicated that some disruption might persist as airlines worked to reposition aircraft and crew, advising travelers to check their flight statuses before heading to the airport. Travel journalist Simon Calder noted on Sky News that the repercussions would be severe, with many cancellations expected for incoming flights due to the backlog from the previous day.
UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has summoned Rolfe for a detailed explanation regarding the malfunction, amid rising concerns about the reliability of the UK's air traffic network. This incident is not isolated; a similar system failure in August 2023 resulted in significant cancellations and financial losses for airlines.
Alexander expressed her desire for assurances that lessons would be learned from this incident and that the systems supporting aviation would be adequately maintained. Ryanair, Europe's largest airline, reported that approximately 150,000 passengers faced delays of up to eight hours, with 200 of its flights canceled. The airline has called for Rolfe's resignation for the second time.
While Rolfe accepted full responsibility for the incident, he did not confirm whether he would step down from his position. NATS, which provides air traffic control services to 15 UK airports, operates as a public-private partnership, partially owned by various airlines, pension funds, and the government.
