A “technical problem” in Britain’s air traffic control system has prompted airlines to warn of flight delays.
The UK’s National Air Traffic Authority said it was experiencing “technical problems” and was “applying traffic restrictions to maintain safety”.
“Engineers are working to find and fix the issue. We apologize for the inconvenience.”
No details were provided as to the cause or how long the repair would take.
Scottish airlines Loganair and easyJet both warned passengers that flights could be delayed.
Broadcast writer Gaby Logan, also on X, said he was on a plane on the runway at Budapest airport and that he had “just been told that British airspace was closed” and that he “could stay here for 12 hours”. There is,” he added.
She said air traffic that was already in the air was allowed to land, but nothing else was taking off.
Travel journalist Simon Calder said the aircraft was slowly descending, but the “flow rate” at which the aircraft could land was greatly reduced.
He told BBC News that many people returned from long weekend trips abroad, today was one of the busiest days of the year, and London Gatwick Airport in the UK is the busiest single runway in the world. Said it was the road airport.
“There is no certainty as to when the problem will be fixed,” he said, adding that officials “don’t seem to know at this stage what caused the problem or how to actually fix it.”
“I’m afraid there will be so many people waking up in places they don’t want to wake up tomorrow,” he said.
The airline said the issue with air traffic control “is currently affecting all flights scheduled to enter or leave UK airspace”.
“We are working with relevant authorities to understand the impact of this issue and the timeline for resuming normal operations,” he said.
In Ireland, problems with UK air traffic control have “delayed or canceled some flights to and from Dublin Airport,” the airport said in a statement to BBC News.
The BBC has contacted Belfast International Airport and George Best Belfast City Airport for updates, as well as London’s Heathrow, Stansted, Gatwick and Luton airports.
