UK air traffic regulator opens independent review into September control failure

Britain's aviation regulator will carry out an independent investigation into the technical failure at the country's air traffic control provider on 8 September.

The Civil Aviation Authority said the review covers how resilient the technical systems are, how emergency and business continuity plans performed, and how earlier recommendations were carried out. It will also examine the CAA's own oversight of Nats and lessons from comparable occurrences, according to the announcement.

Nats has attributed the failure to a software fault. More than 2,000 flights were delayed, cancelled or diverted.

An interim report is expected by the end of January 2027. The final report is due by 8 March.