Nats Blames Millisecond Software Glitch for September Flight Chaos
A software defect lasting a single millisecond caused a major UK air traffic control outage in September, leading to over 2,000 flight cancellations and widespread passenger disruption. The National Air Traffic Service (Nats) confirmed the error produced corrupted data, forcing controllers to restrict airspace to maintain safety. Although the system was restarted by late afternoon, the backlog took days to clear. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander called the incident unacceptable, while Airlines UK demanded compensation for costs incurred. Passengers reported being stranded overseas and facing unexpected expenses, with many unable to claim compensation due to the 'extraordinary circumstances' classification.