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Did Blunder By French Airline Spark Air Traffic Control Issues? Officials Probe If A Single Badly Filed Travel Plan Caused UK's Entire Flight-control System To Collapse In ...
Officials are probing whether a single badly filed travel plan by a French airline was behind the air traffic control meltdown that resulted in thousands of cancelled flights during the worst outage in more than a decade.
Almost 1,000 flights were grounded and cancelled with thousands more delayed after Britain's National Air Traffic Services (NATS) experienced 'technical issues' yesterday.
Today, around 200,000 remain stranded in a location they do not wish to be, while 200 flights out of the UK have been cancelled due to crew and aircraft being out of position. This includes 80 operated by easyJet and 60 by British Airways.
In an extraordinary twist to the fiasco, sources have told The Times that the fault may have been caused by an incorrectly filed plan by a French airline. MailOnline has contacted NATS for comment.
Passengers have been warned that they could face 'days of disruption', which could last until Friday. An easyJet pilot told passengers he had never seen a failure on this scale in 20 years of flying.
It's understood officials are aware of what caused the outage but not how it disabled the system. A cyber attack was also ruled out by NATS.
The mayhem happened on one of the busiest days of the year, when more than a million people were due to fly out of or land in the UK. Experts have warned that disruption is set to continue into the week despite the seven-hour 'network failure' being 'remedied'.
*Are you affected by the UK air traffic control shutdown? Email your story, with photos, to rory.Tingle@mailonline.Co.Uk
Passengers queue up at 4.20am this morning at Manchester Airport's Terminal Two
Passengers are pictured at London Heathrow Airport Terminal Five this morning
Scenes at Manchester Airport early this morning as queues build up at Terminal One
Passengers stranded overnight at London Gatwick Airport are pictured this morning
Passengers queue for check-in in the car park at Manchester Airport's Terminal One
A flight departures board at Manchester Airport shows cancelled departures this morning
Britain's National Air Traffic Services (NATS) said it experienced 'technical issues' that forced controllers to switch from an automatic system for landing and dispatching flights to a manual one.
'Flight plans are being input manually which means we cannot process them at the same volume, hence we have applied traffic flow restrictions,' NATS said. A spokesman told MailOnline there was 'nothing to suggest a cyber attack'.
NATS said at 3.15pm it had 'identified and remedied' the technical issue affecting air traffic control systems and is working with airlines and airports to support the flights affected.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said that despite the technical issue being resolved 'flights are still unfortunately affected'.
He tweeted that he would 'encourage all passengers to read the UK Civil Aviation Authority's guidance & be aware of their rights when flights are delayed or cancelled'.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman told passengers to contact airlines if they needed more information.
Former pilot Alastair Rosenschein told BBC Radio 5 Live that what was happening in UK air space is equivalent to what it would be like on the ground 'if every road was closed'.
At 1.45pm, the majority (78%) of flights leaving Heathrow were delayed, according to Flight Radar data, compared to 74% at Gatwick, 81% at Manchester and 86% at Bristol.
Heathrow has urged passengers only to travel to the airport if flights are 'confirmed to be operating', adding: 'Schedules still remain significantly disrupted.' Delays at 11pm tonight were down to 59 per cent at Europe's busiest airport.
Passengers stranded overnight at London Gatwick Airport are pictured this morning
Passengers stranded overnight at London Gatwick Airport are pictured this morning
Passengers queue for check-in at Manchester Airport's Terminal Two this morning
Passengers queue for check-in in the underground car park at Manchester Airport's Terminal One today
Passengers queue up at 3.48am this morning at Manchester Airport's Terminal One
Paul Charles, the chief executive of the PC Agency, a travel consultancy, told the Daily Telegraph: 'This six-hour outage will impact flights for five days. The reason for that is that you have so many planes and crews that are out of position'.
He added that this combined with the higher volume of people travelling at the moment, with numbers 'approaching pre-pandemic levels', will result in a five-day disruption.
A senior airline executive told the newspaper that disruption will be seen for 'at least a couple of days' but the knock-on effect could be longer for some airlines.
They said that another weekend may have been more manageable, but the timing was 'terrible'. They added that passengers are going to 'have to grin and bear it'.
Under UK law, those affected have legal rights which oblige the airlines to provide support to customers flying from a UK airport, arriving in the country on an EU or UK airline, or arriving at an EU airport on a UK airline.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) website says that in the case of a 'significant delay', the airline must provide a reasonable amount of food and drink, commonly in the form of vouchers, refunds for the cost of calls, and accommodation for passengers stuck overnight and transport to a hotel or their home.
The CAA accepts airlines are sometimes unable to organise such support, so passengers should make their own 'reasonable' arrangements and keep receipts to claim money back, but the authority adds that 'luxury hotels and alcohol' are unlikely to be paid for.
The authority adds that once a passenger accepts a refund or to travel later than the first available flight, then the airline is not obliged to provide food, drink or accommodation.
A passenger sleeping on the floor at Manchester Airport early this morning
The chaos happened on one of the busiest travel days of the year (this man is seen at Manchester Airport this morning)
Nicky Kelvin, Editor at Large at The Points Guy, urged travellers to check the Flight Radar 24 website to track the exact aircraft that will be flying your route.
'You're then able to see where this plane is and whether it has made it out of its previous destination.
'Knowing this information will help you to determine whether you will be encountering any delays ahead of your trip,' he said.
'If you're delayed for more than two hours on a short-haul flight, airlines must provide you with support such as food and drink and reimbursement for phone calls. If you're delayed overnight, they will provide you accommodation and transport to a hotel (or home).'
Britons returning from Tenerife told MailOnline they had been told to expect a wait of at least 12 hours.
Michele Robson, who used to work in air traffic control, said that it was 'unusual' for failures to last this long. As a result, 'nobody really knows at this point how long it's going to take,' she told BBC Radio 4.
Ms Robson told the World at One programme: 'There was a flight planning system failure this morning which affected both centres in the UK.'
Speaking from Jersey Airport while waiting to fly to London, she said: 'Now they have enough data for four hours for controllers to work normally.
'After that point, they have to go manual which means that they work at a much slower rate so they can handle far less aircraft.
Passengers check the flight screens at Heathrow Airport this morning
Hundreds of flights were cancelled at London's busiest airport (which is seen today)
A man lying on the floor this morning in Terminal One at Manchester Airport
'So it looks like there's been what they would call a zero rate put on, where it means that no aircraft can take off inbound to the UK or probably outbound. It would generally be them trying to land things that were already in the air.
'So at the moment, we're just sitting here with no definite takeoff time.'
Contagion from the issue has already spread across Europe, causing delays for some flights leaving the Continent for the USA.
TV presenter Gabby Logan said she has been left stranded on the runway at Budapest Airport while returning from the World Athletics Championships. She wrote: 'After almost 3 weeks away from home I am hours from hugging my family. And have just been told UK airspace is shut. We could be here for 12 hours. So we sit on the plane and wait.'
The Liberal Democrats called on the Prime Minister to convene a Cobra meeting over the issue
Transport spokesperson Wera Hobhouse said: 'Rishi Sunak and his ministers need to get a grip on this issue urgently and hold a Cobra meeting.
'Millions of holidaymakers could be facing huge disruption in the coming days due to this fault and we can't risk this Government being missing in action yet again.
'Brits need to know that the Government is doing all it can to make sure people aren't hit with major delays and disruptions in the coming days.'
Travel expert Simon Calder warned the situation would be 'miserable'.
'There is very little slack in the system and there are hundreds of planes up in the sky heading to the UK,' he told Sky News.
'What's going to happen to those aircraft, will some of them get down if they are in the vicinity of the airfield.
'Otherwise you will see planes held on the ground in places like Amsterdam or otherwise being diverted if they're on a longer flight. That would typically be to a continental airport or an Irish airport.'
Mr Calder said the shutdown would not cause safety issues because the system was 'designed to cope' with a shutdown and aircraft carried contingency fuel.
But he added: 'This is of course one of the busiest days of the year. There are hundreds of thousands of people flying into the UK, frankly this is the last thing anyone needs.
'It will at the very least have caused enough disruption for the system to be in disarray for certainly until the end of the day and possibly for a few further days ahead.'
The travel guru said air traffic controllers at Heathrow - the UK's busiest airport - be forced to reduce the frequency at which flights are able to land.
UK airspace system failure: What are your rights and can you claim compensation back?By Jessica Hamilton
UK airspace has been hit by a network-wide failure for air traffic control systems on one of the busiest travel days of the year.
The system failure is expected to cause disruption for the rest of the day, as the UK will see flights delayed and cancelled, with the mayhem spreading around Europe.
As the chaos continues, many will be wondering if they can claim compensation. But what are your rights? Read on to find out.
Can I claim compensation?
If you're flight is delayed, your airline should offer you support and, according to Citizens Advice, you may be able to claim compensation if your flight was:
If you're on a non-UK flight which connects to a UK flight, you can usually receive compensation if you booked both flights as a single booking, if the delay was the airline's fault and if you're delayed for more than 12 hours.
If your flight is delayed, your airline has to offer food and drink, access to phone calls and emails and accommodation if you're delayed overnight, as well as journeys between the airport and hotel.
However, you're unlikely to get compensation if the delay was because of something outside the airline's control.
According to EU Regulation EC 261/2004, disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other 'extraordinary circumstances' are not eligible for compensation.
How much could I be entitled to?
In cases where the airline is at fault for a delay, passengers could receive the following compensation.
If your flight is delayed for 5 hours or more you can claim £520 in compensation if the delay is the airline's fault and you take flight.
If you don't take the flight and the airline is at fault, they should give you a full refund for the flight and any other flights from the same airline that you won't use.
If you are part-way through your journey, they should fund a flight back to the airport you originally departed from.
Alternatively, if your flight is cancelled you may be entitled to a full refund or a replacement flight.
How can I claim?
To claim compensation, you will have to go through the relevant airline directly.
Most airlines will have a customer services department which will deal with urgent matters, such as flight delays.
In cases where the delay is not the airline's fault, the Civil Aviation Authority says 'don't expect to receive any compensation.'
However, you may be able to make a claim on your travel insurance, as some insurance policies may offer limited cover for delays, according to the Money Saving Expert website.
But be sure to gather evidence of the costs you've incurred, such as hotels or alternative transport.
If you need further help, you can contact the Civil Aviation Authority and Citizens Advice for assistance.
Travel Insurance For Seniors
Whether you are comparing travel insurance online or going direct to the insurer, you will need to answer questions about pre-existing medical conditions. This applies whatever age you are.
It's important to answer these questions honestly as, if you later need to make a claim and the insurer finds out you didn't tell it something relevant, it can accuse you of 'non-disclosure'. This can lead to it rejecting your claim, and refusing to pay out.
Insurers ask about pre-existing conditions because having health issues makes it more likely that you will make a claim. This, in turn, increases the risk for the insurer.
With some common conditions, for example mild asthma, there won't be an effect on the price of your travel insurance premium at all. But for others, such as heart disease or cancer, you may have to pay more.
In general the more severe the illness or disability, the more you'll be asked to pay. In some cases, the insurer won't provide cover for a particular condition.
Statistically, the older you get the more likely you are to have one or more pre-existing conditions.
The 11 Best Travel Adapters, According To Frequent International Travelers
Photo-Illustration: Getty Images
Let's face it: Though you may dream of going off the grid for your next international trip, traveling without your phone, camera, or tablet isn't particularly practical. And if you bring them, it's inevitable that you'll need to plug in and charge them at some point.
That's why a trusty travel adapter is such an essential part of your packing list. While there are many options that can fit American plugs into international outlets, the right adapter should also fit your itinerary and the tech you're bringing along. In addition to my own testing, I've tapped the expertise of world-touring travelers, creators, and influencers for whom staying powered up is as essential to their journeys as a passport. Whether you want to top up your phone battery in a Parisian café or need to charge seven devices from a single outlet, let their wisdom guide you to the adapter that most adeptly satisfies your travel needs.
A note: Unless explicitly mentioned here, it's worth observing that typical travel adapters don't convert power voltage, which can vary between countries. Though most smartphones and tablets are dual-voltage these days, you'll want to double-check the specifications of your devices before leaving on your trip — especially if you're bringing something like an electric shaver or a hair dryer.
"These are dirt cheap and fit in the palm of your hand," says Going.Com founder Scott Keyes of this low-cost, no-frills option fit for European (but not U.K.) travel. Small enough for even the tiniest, trickiest outlets, Keyes also lauds the flexibility that comes with this four-pack of adapters.
You both "don't have to take turns charging your electronics" and don't have to charge all of them in the same outlet, as you would with a bulkier (and pricier) all-in-one alternative. Plus, there's something to be said for not letting a single missing adapter ruin your trip: "If I lose one, which, let's be honest, happens not infrequently on the road, they're cheap and easy to replace," Keyes says.
For short trips that only involve a laptop and a phone, Arthur Wei, the well-traveled co-founder of Brooklyn Camper Vans, turns to this clever adapter. Truly living up to its "universal" billing, its ingenious design consists of interlocking pieces which snap into place to fit into European, British, Indian, Brazilian, and American outlets. Wei loves that Road Warrior's adapter "packs light" and notes that its $12 price point means that your trip isn't ruined if it goes missing.
I recently tested Epicka's travel adapter on a two-week excursion around Portugal, and loved its ability to connect as many as six devices to power from a single outlet. It boasts three USB-C ports (plus two USB-A ports), all of which make it easy to charge smartphones, tablets, and other tech without even plugging a power block into the adapter itself.
If I have one complaint, it's that it took a little extra finesse to fit it into the occasional oddly-angled European outlet. But double-checking that it's plugged in properly is a small price to pay for this adapter's charging capabilities. Overall, Epicka's carry-on-friendly adapter offered solid value and performance, whether I needed to top up my camera battery or quickly charge my iPhone, iPad, and Nintendo Switch Lite while waiting for a transatlantic flight home.
When it comes to charging everything from her AirPods to her drone, Wendy Hu, photographer, creative director, and video host for Travel+Leisure, relies on this versatile option from Ceptics. Featuring two U.S. Outlets, 2 USB-A slots (another version features an additional two USB-C slots), and six interchangeable international adapters, Hu describes it as "sturdy and well-made" despite weighing in at just five ounces.
In addition to built-in surge protection to guard against voltage spikes and an attached micro USB cable (handy for charging smaller devices like Bluetooth headphones), it also offers quick-charging support for compatible devices — making it ideal for use in that brief window between daytime excursions and dinner plans, or during a brief pit stop in a café.
"For an adapter to work for me, it needs to be an all-in-one universal adapter with an AC outlet, USB-C, and USB-A outlets" says former Googler and current travel-content creator Catarina Mello, who recommends this one by Momax. "It also needs to have an overload dual fuse for safety and support for up to 2500 watts," She says that's a must in order to use devices like hair dryers, curlers, and steamers. "If your adapter can't handle a larger surge current, it'll get damaged or burn out."
In addition to handling high-powered items, this universal adapter has space to power up to six devices from a single outlet across more than 150 countries. Three of those slots are quick charging USB-C ports, one of which pumps out 65 watts, delivering enough power to charge a laptop without bringing a separate adapter.
Matthew Kepnes, founder of Nomadic Matt and author of How to Travel the World on $50 a Day, is loyal to Joomfeen's efficient universal adapter, which nestles input plugs for European, U.K., U.S., and Australian outlets into a single, streamlined adapter weighing just over three ounces. With two USB-A ports, it maxes out on charging three devices at a time, making it a little less versatile than other, more powerful options. But if you're looking for an adapter that can get the job done without eating into your travel fund, this option is hard to beat.
For travelers who prioritize power over portability (or those who need an adapter that can safely convert voltage), multiple experts recommend Bestek's Universal Travel Adapter, including former NFL player and current travel creator Jeremy Cash, who loves its "all-in-one design." With a three-AC-outlet power strip and four USB-A ports, it includes support for charging up to seven devices at once "no matter what country I'm in," he says.
In addition to that plethora of charging ports, travel blogger and mom Kiersten Rich lauds its ability to convert voltage, which she says is "better for protecting expensive electronics" and "critical" for any hair tools you're bringing along for the trip.
With a profile of 7.8-by-6.5 inches and a weight of one pound, it's far from the most minimalist option, but the inclusion of a five-foot detachable power cable means that this adapter can transform a single hard-to-reach outlet into a convenient charging station. That's why director, producer, and photographer Kathryn Sheldon has relied on it through years of overseas trips with cameras in tow. She says, "I don't bring it if I'm trying to be super lightweight and carry-on only, but otherwise it's an amazing tool."
On a recent trip to Thailand, Pack Hacker editor Lauren Maternowski says her team loved the utility of this mighty adapter from Mogics, which can charge seven devices simultaneously thanks to a unique circular power strip ringing the outlet adapter. It also makes use of a retractable extension cable that she says makes it "handy if your accommodations are short on accessible plugs."
Maternowski says that you can also remove the titular bagel and leave it behind if packing space is at a premium: "The adapter itself is one of the smallest we've seen, so it won't take up much room in your bag."
If you aren't worried about converting voltage but still find that you're "always charging a million things," travel blogger Rich recommends this 110-volt option from Foval for use with European outlets. Similar to Bestek's adapter, it offers three AC outlets, four USB-A ports, and an extension cord. But it has the added advantage of a USB-C port — not to mention a slimmer, lighter design that can plug directly into a wall socket while taking up about half as much space in your luggage.
Boasting a full complement of mesh and zippered pockets plus velcro cord holders, former NFL player Cash argues that this ProCase product "is essential for anyone who carries a ton of cords when they travel." But it's not just about cables: With a padded bottom compartment featuring removable dividers, its water-resistant design can safely store everything from external hard drives and MacBook chargers to AirPods and SD cards. As the pro athlete turned seasoned traveler puts it: "Trust me when I say you need this case."
Former Googler Mello doesn't travel without this five-foot, triple-pronged braid that functions as a USB-A to USB-C, lightning, and micro-USB cable. Though she usually treats these cables as her backup option, they're viable as a primary cable if you're looking to minimize clutter, and Mello admits they've "come in handy more times than I can count." In welcome news for those who regularly misplace cables, these are sold in packs of three.
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Related The Best-Designed Travel Adapter Works in 150 Countries
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