MoD Denies Military Jet Caused UK Air Traffic Chaos

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has firmly denied any fault amidst swirling reports that data from a military jet was the culprit behind the recent air traffic control system failure that plunged UK airports into disarray. The technical issue, which occurred earlier this week at National Air Traffic Services (Nats), led to the cancellation of over 2,000 flights arriving or departing the UK, with disruptions spilling into the following day.

Speculation mounted on Friday after reports surfaced, citing four sources, that a flight plan submitted by a military aircraft triggered a glitch within the broader air traffic control system, leading to hours of shutdown. However, an MoD spokesperson stated there was no indication of error on the part of the military.

They added that further comment would be inappropriate while Nats' live investigation, expected to conclude next week, is still ongoing. Similarly, a Nats spokesperson indicated that they are continuing to investigate the underlying cause and that speculating at this stage would be premature, confirming a full technical investigation would follow.

The widespread disruption has sparked significant backlash, with many calling for the resignation of Martin Rolfe, chief executive of Nats.

Mr. Rolfe has publicly apologised for the incident, taking "full responsibility" for the system failure. Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary branded Mr.

Rolfe's position as "untenable" earlier in the week, reflecting the frustration felt across the aviation industry and by countless passengers. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander also weighed in, telling MPs that she did not believe the air traffic control issue was "unavoidable." A Wizz Air spokesperson expressed extreme disappointment, stating that Nats is "simply not fit for purpose in its current form." This incident echoes a similar technical glitch in August 2023, where over 700,000 passengers experienced disruptions due to a Nats system issue while processing a flight plan.

The current investigation aims to uncover the precise cause and prevent future occurrences.

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