- Heathrow and Gatwick face further flight cancellations following air traffic control issues
- Family of four missing after plane disappears off Bahamas coast
- US forces destroy five Iranian oil tankers after missile attacks on ships
- Family of Taig Savage from Penticton gives up on justice after plea deal
- Supreme Court denies Missouri’s request for new Republican-favoured House map
- Israeli ministers call for UK sanctions over Falkland Islands ‘occupation’
- Technical glitch disrupts UK air traffic control, affecting 1,000 flights
- UK, Canada, and France ban imports from Israeli settlements
UK public borrowing exceeds official forecast in September
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Get you up to speed: More Heathrow & Gatwick flights cancelled after knock-on effect from air traffic control chaos | News UK
A technical issue at Nats caused significant flight disruptions across major UK airports, leading to the cancellation of 177 flights on Tuesday. While flights are operating again, authorities have warned of continued disruption as airlines work to reposition aircraft and crew.
The National Air Traffic Services (NATS) has fixed the technical glitch affecting its flight processing system, but the aviation industry continues to deal with significant operational disruptions as airlines and airports work to reposition aircraft and crew. As of now, 177 flights have been cancelled, predominantly affecting Heathrow Airport, with more cancellations expected as operations gradually normalise.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander will address the Commons following a meeting with Nats CEO Martin Rolfe, who is facing calls for resignation from industry leaders, including Ryanair’s chief operating officer. While Nats has identified the technical issue and operations have resumed at major airports, lingering disruptions will affect flights as airlines work to reposition aircraft and crew.
What remains unclear — It is not specified how long it will take for operations to fully return to normal amid the ongoing disruptions.
Heathrow and Gatwick face further flight cancellations following air traffic control issues
UK travellers brace themselves for a second day of misery as the air traffic control issue is set to cause more flight cancellations.
Tuesday marked a difficult day for the aviation industry and passengers as a technical issue grounded hundreds of planes across major airports.
Passengers trying to reach holidays and weddings waited hours on stranded aircraft, only to be told to come back in the morning. Some spent their nights on the cold airport floors and seats.
The havoc stemmed from a technical system glitch affecting Nats, which provides air traffic control services to 15 UK airports.
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Although the glitch itself has been fixed, the knock-on impact will continue to hamper flights as aircraft and crew have been left misplaced overnight.
So far today, 177 flights have been cancelled, mostly at Heathrow Airport, according to tracking website Flightradar24.
At Gatwick, most morning flights are listed to depart, but several with delays. An easyJet flight to Nice at 8.30am was listed as cancelled, according to Flightradar24.
Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton said flights are operating today but some disruption might continue, and people should check with their airline.
Tens of thousands of passengers were affected yesterday, with Ryanair alone reporting that more than 65,000 of its passengers were caught up.
Those lucky enough not to be stranded on an aircraft reported issues and delays with receiving their luggage.
The chief of Nats, Martin Rolfe, was summoned to meet with the Transport Secretary today.
Following yesterday’s NATS technical issue, flights are operating today, but some disruption may continue as airlines reposition aircraft and crew.
Please check your flight status with your airline before travelling to the airport and only travel if your flight is confirmed to be… pic.twitter.com/DZ2g7GQYkL— Heathrow Airport (@HeathrowAirport) September 9, 2026
Speaking to Sky News, he said he accepts ‘full responsibility,’ but refused to answer whether he was considering his position after the glitch.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander will face the Commons after speaking with Rolfe for the second reading of the Civil Aviation Bill.
Ryanair’s chief operating officer, Neal McMahon, called on Rolfe to resign, calling him an ‘overpaid failure’ CEO.
McMahon said: ‘How many more failures do passengers have to suffer before overpaid failure Nats CEO Martin Rolfe accepts responsibility for his repeated mismanagement and resigns?
‘Over three years after Nats’ catastrophic 2023 system meltdown, it’s clear that nothing has changed, with UK passengers once again suffering avoidable ATC (air traffic control) delays of up to eight hours today due a critical Nats ATC system failing.’
British former racing driver Martin Brundle said he was stranded on a planeto ‘nowhere’ at Heathrow for ‘nine hours and counting.’
He said on social media: ‘At a remote parking bay, no food throughout, and mother/baby and a person with a medical condition desperate to get off. As is everyone else. Toilets no longer available as blocked. No sign of steps or buses. And that’s before the wait for luggage.’
Flights have now resumed from London Gatwick.
However, we still anticipate that it will take time for our operations to fully return to normal.
Passengers should continue to check with their airlines for more information regarding their flights. pic.twitter.com/ai6prR2Rv8
— London Gatwick LGW (@Gatwick_Airport) September 9, 2026
Josie Donogue had to disembark her flight to Ireland after spending three hours on the runway.
She said: ‘Getting through that airport was like trying to get out of Alcatraz. We were trapped in there. We were told we couldn’t get out until the flights were cancelled, and then eventually they allowed us to get out.
‘It’s just an absolute nightmare down there, it’s the only word I can use to describe it.’
Nats said in its latest update on Tuesday evening: ‘Work is continuing to assist airlines and airports recover from today’s disruption.
‘This has been a very complex recovery and has created difficulties for the whole aviation network, from which it will take time to recover.
‘We apologise again for the disruption caused. Passengers should check with their airline on the status of their flight tonight or tomorrow.’
Aviation analytics firm Cirium said more than 1,750 arriving and departing UK flights out of 5,800 were cancelled yesterday.
What are your rights if the flight is delayed or cancelled?
In the UK and EU, airlines must look after you if your flight is delayed or cancelled. This includes everything from meals and accommodation to an alternative flight if necessary.
Citizen’s Advice says that airlines should also give impacted passengers access to phone calls and emails, and, if they offer you a place to stay, organise the journeys between the hotel and the airport.
Sometimes, the airline will cover this by handing you vouchers at the airport. When in doubt, keep any receipts for expenses and claim them back afterwards from the airline.
But an airline will only cough up money for ‘reasonable’ expenses.
If you didn’t book with a UK or EU airline, you’ll need to check their terms and conditions. However, for the most part, airlines should provide meals and accommodation as appropriate.
When am I eligible for this support?
Whether you’re eligible for the above depends on the distance of your flight and how long you have waited:
- For medium-haul (between 1,500km and 3,500km over two to four hours), it’s three hours or more.
- For long-haul (more than 3,500km over four hours or more), it’s four hours or more.
- For short-haul (up to 1,500km over two hours or less), you must have been waiting for two hours or more.
What about compensation?
The bad news is that if your flight was cancelled or delayed due to the air traffic control issue, you are unlikely to be owed compensation from the airline.
This is because of the force majeure or exceptional circumstances rule as the disruption was out of the airline’s control.
Have you been affected? Please email [email protected]
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Get you up to speed: Family missing after plane crash off Bahamas coast | News World
A light aircraft carrying four American family members, including Mario Lamar Senior, 80, and his grandchildren Sofia Sosa, 28, and Christian Sosa, 22, has disappeared off the coast of Andros Island, Bahamas. Search and rescue operations are underway after the plane lost contact shortly after takeoff from Great Harbour Cay.
The search operation for the missing plane was hindered by inclement weather, with further rain and thunderstorms expected throughout the week. The Royal Bahamian Defense Force’s assistance request was made around 2pm after the aircraft was reported down approximately 15 miles off Andros Island.
The Bahamian Coast Guard has initiated a search and rescue operation after the aircraft was reported missing, but efforts have been hampered by adverse weather conditions. The families of the missing individuals have called on authorities to “deploy every available resource to locate the aircraft and its four occupants as quickly as possible.”
What remains unclear — It is unknown if any wreckage from the aircraft has been located amidst the ongoing search efforts.
Family of four missing after plane disappears off Bahamas coast

Sofia Sosa and her brother Christian Sosa were travelling on the plane with their grandparents when it is believed to have crashed (Picture: Family handout)
A couple and their two grandchildren are missing after a small plane disappeared off the Bahamas.
Search and rescue crews are scouring the Caribbean Sea after a light aircraft is believed to have crashed.
It was carrying an American family when it disappeared yesterday afternoon on their way from Andros Island to Miami.
The missing four have been named as Mario Lamar Senior, 80, Lili Lamar, 79, Sofia Sosa, 28, and Christian Sosa, 22.

The pilot, grandfather Mario Lamar, 80, and his wife Lili Lamar, 79, are also missing after the incident (Picture: Family handout)
Mr Lamar is an experienced pilot with more than 40 years of flying experience, the family told ABC News.
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They were travelling in a PA-34 Piper five-seater aircraft with tail number N212ML, the police said.
The family said they were tracking the plane when it suddenly turned around and lost contact.
The Lamar and Sosa families pleaded with the authorities to ‘deploy every available resource to locate the aircraft and its four occupants as quickly as possible.’

The family were flying in a small aircraft piloted by Mario Lamar Senior when it disappeared (Picture: Adrian Pingstone)
They left the Great Harbour Cay at around 11.12am local time before losing contact.
A search operation launched following the disappearance was delayed by rough weather. More rain and thunder have been forecast for the rest of the week.
The Bahamian Coast Guard said in a statement: ‘At approximately 2pm the Royal Bahamian Defense Force requested Coast Guard assistance following a report of a downed airplane with 4 people aboard approximately 15 miles off Andros Island, Bahamas.’
In July, 10 people died after a Cessna 402C crashed in San Andros on North Andros Island.
There were no survivors after the plane crashed into a wooded area near the runway, bursting into flames.
The Bahamas are made of 700 islands and around 2,400 smaller coral islets or cays.
Most of the smaller islets are uninhabited, and 90% of the Bahamas’ 300,000 residents live on the islands of New Providence, Grand Bahama and Abaco.
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