Ryanair Flights Disrupted: UK Air Traffic Issue Leaves Passengers Stranded
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has strongly criticized the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) following the cancellation of 250 flights operated by the airline. This unexpected turn of events has left 200,000 vacationers in a state of limbo.
The possibility of a French airline’s mistake causing a “technical issue” leading to the disruption has not been ruled out by officials at Number 10.
While concerns arose over a potential cyberattack, both government and aviation sources have denied this as the cause.
Reports this morning have hinted that an erroneously filed flight plan by a French airline might be the culprit behind the chaos.
Mark Harper, the Transport Secretary, assured the public that an independent review would be conducted to address the situation. He mentioned that the Civil Aviation Authority would compile a report in the upcoming days to determine if lessons can be learned to prevent similar future incidents.
Michael O’Leary, the head of Ryanair, expressed his frustration with NATS for their role in the issue. He stated that approximately 250 flights had to be canceled due to prolonged delays in flight plans and exhausted crews, affecting around 40,000 passengers.
O’Leary demanded clarity from NATS, stating that they have yet to provide a satisfactory explanation for the failure. He questioned the absence of backup systems, emphasizing that it’s unacceptable for computer systems to fail so catastrophically.
The trouble began on Monday when the National Air Traffic Services (Nats) experienced a “technical issue,” preventing the automatic processing of flight plans. As a result, flights were limited while plans were manually reviewed, leading to the cancellation of over 25% of flights across UK airports.
Nats announced that the problem was resolved by 3:15 pm on Monday. However, the disruption carried into Tuesday as aircraft and crews faced disarray.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak acknowledged the frustration experienced by affected travelers. He assured the public that while such occurrences are infrequent, disruptions would persist for a little while longer. The Transport Secretary is in direct communication with industry stakeholders to expedite passengers’ safe returns.
In response to the turmoil, an NATS spokesperson conveyed their apology for the recent air traffic control issue. They recognized the considerable number of individuals whose travel plans were disrupted. Normal operations have resumed, with collaborative efforts between NATS, airlines, and airports to alleviate the backlog promptly.
An in-depth investigation is underway to identify the root cause of the incident. NATS remains committed to applying the lessons learned to prevent similar disruptions in the future.