Britain's National Air Traffic Service (NATS) told Insider on Monday that it "applied traffic flow restrictions to maintain safety" after a "technical issue" affected its flight-planning system. The issue meant flight plans had to be processed manually, resulting in a number of cancellations.
Although the NATS told Insider the problem had been "identified and remedied" on Monday afternoon, around a third of all flights to and from the UK were canceled that day, as The Times reported.
And while the issue is now resolved, it's affected thousands of British passengers who were due to travel home on Monday, which was a public holiday in the UK, as BBC News reported. With flights disrupted at airports across the UK and Europe, passengers told the BBC they may not be able to return home until later in the week while some say they're seeking alternative modes of transportation.
A spokesperson for the UK Prime Minister's office at Downing Street confirmed that an investigation into what caused the issue is underway, as The Times reported on Tuesday.
In the meantime, airports in London appear to be full of passengers waiting at airports for their flight. Take a look.
Passengers traveling to and from the UK were left stranded at airports across Europe on Monday after an air-traffic control issue caused flight delays and cancellations. The problem resulted in long lines at airports like London's Gatwick Airport (pictured below).
People wait near check-in desks at Gatwick Airport in London amid major flight disruptions on August 28, 2023.
Carl Court/Getty Images
The technical error is being investigated, The Times reported on Tuesday. The same report said around a third of flights to and from the UK were canceled on Monday. But on Tuesday, departure boards like this one at Stansted Airport continued to show cancellations.
Cancelled flights are displayed on a departures board at Stansted Airport in London on August 29, 2023.
At London's Heathrow — the UK's largest airport — many passengers were pictured sitting on their luggage as they appeared to wait for updates on Monday. The airport has been the most impacted by cancellations, The Times reported.
People wait at the British Airways check-in area at Heathrow Airport in London amid flight disruptions on August 28, 2023.
Britain's National Air Traffic Service said the technical issue was resolved on Monday, but some passengers were still waiting to fly out of and to the UK as of Tuesday.
Passengers pictured at Stansted Airport in London on August 29, 2023.
DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images
Some passengers were photographed sleeping at London's Gatwick Airport as they waited for flights on Tuesday.
A passenger sleeps at Gatwick Airport in London on August 29, 2023.
DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images
Meanwhile, one passenger at London's Stansted Airport was pictured laying on the ground as they waited to check in.
A passenger lies on the floor at Stansted Airport in London on August 29, 2023.
Daniel LEAL/AFP/Getty Images
Another passenger at Stansted waited out a delay by taking a nap on the floor next to their luggage. Disruptions are expected to continue for days.
Passengers wait at Stansted Airport on August 29, 2023, after UK flights were delayed over a technical issue.
