LONDON : A system failure at the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) Swanwick control centre has triggered widespread flight delays and cancellations across London’s airspace. The outage, described as a “technical issue,” has led to the restriction of aircraft movements in the capital’s control area, with all outbound flights affected.

“As a result of a technical issue at NATS Swanwick air traffic control centre, we are limiting the number of aircraft flying in the London control area in order to ensure safety, which is always our first priority,” NATS said in an official statement.

Passengers at London Heathrow, Gatwick, and other major airports reported scenes of confusion and long queues, with airlines urging travelers to check their flight status before heading to the airport.

NATS added that engineers are working urgently to resolve the issue and restore full functionality but noted that there is no definitive timeline for when normal operations will resume.

“We apologise for any delays this may cause,” the statement continued. “We are working closely with airlines to help minimise disruption.”

The unexpected shutdown has left thousands of passengers stranded or delayed and comes at a time when summer travel volumes remain high.

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