Air Traffic Control meltdown inquiry highlights 'lack of pre-planning'
Nearly 750,000 passengers were affected last summer
Last updated 14th Mar 2024
An independent review into the August bank holiday air traffic control (ATC) meltdown which affected nearly 750,000 passengers has highlighted a "significant lack of pre-planning".
Flights were grounded across UK airports on August 28 after ATC provider National Air Traffic Services (Nats) suffered a technical glitch while processing a flight plan.
An interim report from an inquiry into what happened found there does not appear to have been "any multi-agency rehearsal of the management of an incident of this nature and scale".
These rehearsals are "best practice" and "regularly conducted in other sectors", the inquiry panel stated.
The report went on: "It is clear there is a significant lack of pre-planning and co-ordination for major events and incidents that targets the alleviation and remediation of major incidents."
Many affected passengers were required to pay up front for alternative flights, food and accommodation - and submitted claims to airlines for reimbursement - despite airlines being legally required to provide these.
The inquiry panel described the financial cost to passengers as "very considerable", but noted that the "stress and anxiety" was "at least as serious".
Some travellers were stranded overseas for several days because of the number of flight cancellations.
The inquiry is being led by Jeff Halliwell, who has served as a chief executive and non-executive director in roles across the private and public sector.