"A huge traffic jam in the sky": Israelis trapped due to glitch

A technical glitch in the UK's air traffic control system caused delays for over 1,000 flights, including two flights from Israel. Nats provider CEO Martin Rolfe apologized and said the issue has been resolved, but restoring the schedule will take time. Ryanair reported delays for over 65,000 passengers.

A technical glitch in the British air traffic control system, which occurred on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, led to widespread chaos at UK airports. Over 1,000 flights were affected, including at least two flights from Israel. Air navigation services provider Nats confirmed that the issue has been resolved, but the process of returning to a normal schedule, according to CEO Martin Rolfe, will take longer than expected. Rolfe apologized and said the glitch lasted about six hours. Ryanair, Europe's largest carrier, reported delays for over 65,000 passengers, with waiting times reaching up to eight hours. British Airways warned of ongoing significant indirect impacts on schedules. At London Heathrow, flight arrivals were temporarily suspended for safety reasons. Manchester and East Midlands airports stated their intention to operate a full schedule but warned of deviations. A full investigation into the cause of the glitch is underway.