UK Air Traffic Control Glitch Disrupts 700,000 Passengers: Inquiry Findings and Future Recommendations
An inquiry into the August 2023 UK air traffic control failure, which disrupted 700,000 passengers, revealed delays in verifying password access for a remote engineer exacerbated the situation. The Civil Aviation Authority’s report suggested that the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) should have stationed a Level 2 engineer on site during peak travel periods. Immediate communication with airlines was also criticized, as many discovered the incident through media. The inquiry prompted calls for NATS to enhance its operational resilience and better engage with industry stakeholders to prevent future occurrences.