The British government is collaborating with airlines to assist stranded passengers in getting home after a widespread air traffic control glitch caused flight disruption across Europe. More than 1,500 flights were cancelled on Monday, impacting thousands of passengers who found themselves stuck in airports both in Europe and further afield. The glitch prompted air traffic controllers to switch to manual systems due to a technical problem. Ryanair, British Airways, and EasyJet were among the airlines affected by the cancellations and delays.

The CEO of Britain's National Air Traffic Services (NATS), Martin Rolfe, apologized for the technical failure and stated that investigations reveal it was related to flight data processing. Transportation Secretary Mark Harper warned that resolving the issues could take days, as the fault caused disruptions in airline schedules and the positioning of planes and crews. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak assured the public that the government is working closely with industry participants to ensure that passengers are supported and able to return home swiftly.

Harper chaired a meeting with NATS, the Civil Aviation Authority, airlines, airports, trade bodies, and Border Force to address the situation, and government officials confirmed that the technical problem was not the result of a cyberattack. Aviation analytics firm Cirium reported that 790 flights departing from British airports and 785 flights scheduled to arrive were cancelled on Monday, affecting over a quarter of all flights to or from the country. Despite the glitch being resolved within a few hours, significant delays and cancellations continued on Tuesday.

The disruption caused major inconvenience for passengers, including missing important medical appointments and being forced to find alternative accommodations. Heathrow Airport, the busiest hub in the UK, advised passengers to contact their airlines before traveling on Tuesday. Gatwick Airport and London Luton Airport also experienced disruptions, with delays and cancellations persisting. Nats confirmed the fault and subsequent fix, but warned that it would take time for flights to return to normal. Airlines such as British Airways and Ryanair offered passengers flexibility, allowing them to change their flight dates free of charge. However, analysts predicted that the repercussions of the glitch would last for days, with a significant impact on airline operations and flight schedules.

Passengers recounted their experiences of being stranded, while aviation experts emphasized the rarity of such technical faults and the consequent need for air traffic control to halt incoming flights for safety. The Civil Aviation Authority advised passengers of their rights to food, drink, accommodation, and alternative travel arrangements when flights are delayed or cancelled. The air traffic control failure sparked calls for an emergency response committee to be convened and raised concerns among various political parties. NATS expressed its apologies for the disruption and launched an investigation into the cause of the glitch.