Air traffic control chaos: Hundreds of passengers left ‘stranded’ in ‘absolutely shocking’ conditions

Published

2 years ago

August 29, 2023

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Hundreds of Ryanair passengers have been left “stranded” on a Spanish island after a technical fault affected air traffic control.

They were among thousands of passengers stuck abroad when their flights were cancelled as a UK air traffic control failure meant flight plans had to be input manually by controllers.

Marco McCool told Sky News around 300 Ryanair passengers returning from Gran Canaria to Edinburgh had been stranded in the airport in “absolutely shocking” conditions with no food, no accommodation and “not enough” water.

He said the holidaymakers were initially told their flight was delayed before they arrived at the gate only to learn it had been cancelled because the cabin crew were over their recommended hours.

The abandoned travellers were then told the next direct flight would be at least another week away and there was “zero chance” of an emergency flight.

The cancelled flight later returned to Edinburgh without any passengers, he claimed.

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Mr McCool, a 19-year-old student, said the stranded passengers were having to stay in the airport while they waited for more information because they were unable to book accommodation.

He described children sleeping on the hard floor and using their suitcases as pillows while cockroaches crawled around nearby.

Mr McCool said the passengers were initially given a crate of water bottles – but not enough for everyone – and have not been provided with food or vouchers.

He described how he and his girlfriend were “sitting on a dirty floor with cockroaches and no food”.

What have airports said about the disruption?

While NATS has confirmed it has fixed the technical issue with the UK’s air traffic control system, airports have warned the disruption it has caused will continue. Here’s what some of them have said.

London Luton Airport: “Flights may be subject to delay or cancellation as a result of yesterday’s technical issues with Air Traffic Control systems across UK airspace. Please check with your airline for the latest status of your flight.”

Manchester Airport: “As a result of the nationwide technical problem experienced by NATS earlier today, there continues to be flight disruption, including delays and cancellations.”

Newcastle International Airport: “We understand that the technical issue with National Air Traffic Services is now resolved, but it will take some time for operations to get back to normal.”

London Stansted Airport expects to run a normal flight schedule on Tuesday 29 August, following the nationwide technical issue that affected air traffic control. “We do still advise passengers to check the status of their flight with their airline before travelling to the airport. As our airlines look to accommodate passengers whose travel plans have been disrupted over the past 24 hours, our terminal may be busier than anticipated.
Our teams will be working with our airlines and their handing agents to get you through the airport as smoothly as possible. Thank-you for your understanding.”

Heathrow Airport: We apologise for any inconvenience as a result of the NATS technical issues today. The issue has been resolved however schedules remain significantly disrupted. If you are travelling on 29th August, please ensure you contact your airline before travelling to the airport.

Gatwick Airport plans to operate a normal schedule on Tuesday 29 August following disruption today (28 August). Passengers are however advised to check the status of their flight with the airline before travelling to the airport.

‘We have literally just been left to fend for ourselves’

Mr McCool said the airline had told the passengers they could book accommodation and then claim the money back, but all hotels and Airbnb accommodation had already been booked up.

Passengers have been told they could book on other airlines, but he said “flights have skyrocketed” and any route to the UK involves several connections, with some taking up to 48 hours.

“I don’t believe they can’t do another flight,” Mr McCool said. “We have been stranded with no options. We are students so we have not got the kind of money to book another flight.

“We have literally just been left to fend for ourselves.”

Mr McCool said as a last resort they had to book their own flights to Tenerife, paying £200 for a 40-minute flight, and will still not be able to travel back to Edinburgh until Friday.

Asked if Ryanair had offered compensation, he said: “We have got no idea, we keep getting told different things.

“One minute we will get compensation for the lot if we save every one of our receipts, but we have also been told we will only get compensation for one night of accommodation and one day’s worth of food. It honestly does not make sense.”

What are Ryanair passengers’ rights?

Sky News has contacted Ryanair for comment.

The airline’s compensation policy states it is entitled to refuse compensation when it can prove the cancellation is “caused by extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken by Ryanair”.

Among the examples it gives is “failure or delay of air traffic control facilities”.

The policy says passengers whose flights are cancelled or delayed by more than two hours are entitled to meals and refreshment vouchers and two telephone calls, telex or fax messages or e-mails. If the new time of departure is at least a day after the original then they are entitled to hotel accommodation when a stay of one or more nights becomes necessary and transport between the airport and place of accommodation.

By Monday afternoon 232 flights departing UK airports had been cancelled along with 271 arriving flights, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. It equated to about 8% of all expected departures and 9% of expected arrivals, Cirium added.

Airlines warn of ‘significant delays’

Major airlines such as Tui and BA have warned of “significant delays” amid changes to schedules.

Heathrow Airport – Britain’s busiest – said its services will “remain significantly disrupted” on Tuesday and urged passengers to contact their airline before travelling to the airport.

Gatwick said it plans to operate a normal schedule but advised passengers to “check the status of their flight with the airline before travelling to the airport”.

UK

Two arrested on suspicion of murder after disappearance of woman in South Wales

Published

3 hours ago

April 18, 2025

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Two arrested on suspicion of murder after disappearance of woman in South Wales

Police investigating the disappearance of a woman in South Wales have arrested two people on suspicion of murder.

Paria Veisi, 37, was last seen around 3pm on Saturday 12 April when she left her workplace in the Canton area of Cardiff.

She was driving her car, a black Mercedes GLC 200, which was later found on Dorchester Avenue in the Penylan area on the evening of Tuesday 15 April.

South Wales Police said it was now treating her disappearance as a murder investigation.

A 41-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman, both known to Ms Veisi, have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in police custody.

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Powell said he currently had “no proof that Paria is alive”.

The senior investigating officer added: “[Ms Veisi’s] family and friends are extremely concerned that they have not heard from her, which is totally out of character.

“Paria’s family has been informed and we are keeping them updated.

“We have two people in custody, and at this stage we are not looking for anybody else in connection with this investigation.

“Our investigation remains focused on Paria’s movements after she left work in the Canton area on Saturday April 12.

“Extensive CCTV and house-to-house inquiries are being carried out by a team of officers and I am appealing for anybody who has information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to make contact.”

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Ms Veisi is described as having long, curly black hair.

She was last seen wearing a black zip-up gym top over a red top, black trousers and trainers, and was carrying a small handbag.

UK

UB40 say striking Birmingham bin workers ‘shouldn’t give up’

Published

3 hours ago

April 18, 2025

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UB40 say striking Birmingham bin workers 'shouldn't give up'

Birmingham band UB40 say the city’s striking bin workers and their union should “keep fighting” in their dispute over pay.

It comes as the government and the council urged them to accept a “fair and reasonable offer”.

“We’re fully on their side,” drummer Jimmy Brown told Sky News. “I think they shouldn’t give up, they should still be fighting.

“Working people shouldn’t have to take a reduction in their incomes, which is what we’re talking about here.

“We’re talking about people being paid less and it seems to me with prices going up, heating, buying food, inflation and rents going up then people need a decent wage to have a half decent life… keep going boys!”

Workers joined picket lines again on Thursday, with some fearing they could be up to £600 a month worse off if they accept the terms.

“We have total utter support for the bin men and all trade unions,” said guitarist Robin Campbell.

“The other side is always going to say they’ve made a reasonable offer – the point is they’re the ones who’ve messed up, they’re the ones who’ve gone bankrupt, they’re the ones now trying to reduce the bin men’s wages.”

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Lead singer Matt Doyle told Sky News: “It’s a shame that what we’re seeing is all the images of rats and rubbish building up, that is going to happen inevitably, but we’ve just got to keep fighting through that.”

About 22,000 tonnes of rubbish accumulated on the city’s streets after a major incident was declared last month by Birmingham City Council.

On a visit to the city, local government minister Jim McMahon said the union and local authority should continue to meet in “good faith” and the government felt there was a deal that could be “marshalled around”.

He paid tribute to the “hundreds of workers” who have worked “around the clock” to clear the rubbish.

“As we stand here today, 85% of that accumulated waste has been cleared and the council have a plan in place now to make sure it doesn’t accumulate going forward,” said Mr McMahon.

Sky News understands talks are not set to resume until next week.

UK

Trans women to be strip searched by male transport police after court ruling

Published

3 hours ago

April 18, 2025

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Trans women to be strip searched by male transport police after court ruling

Trans women in British Transport Police custody will now be strip searched by male officers – not female – following Wednesday’s Supreme Court ruling.

The force said it is introducing an “interim position” while it digests the Supreme Court’s decision that the definition of a “woman” under the Equality Act 2010 refers to “a biological woman and biological sex”.

A British Transport Police (BTP) Authority spokesman told Sky News: “Under previous policy, we had advised that someone with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) may be searched in accordance with their acquired sex.

“However, as an interim position while we digest today’s judgment, we have advised our officers that any same sex searches in custody are to be undertaken in accordance with the biological birth sex of the detainee.”

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In September last year, BTP, which is responsible for policing the UK’s railways and similar transport systems, published its “position” on transgender and non-binary officers carrying out strip searches.

It said officers would “only be able to search persons of the same sex on their birth or gender recognition certificate (GRC).

Officers who identified as another gender but who did not have a GRC were not allowed to, but if a trans woman had a certificate, they could strip search a female detainee.

Strip searches involve the removal of more than a jacket, outer coat, gloves, headwear and footwear.

They “expose buttocks, genitalia and (female) breasts”, the BTP guidance says.

The Sex Matters campaign applied for a judicial review of that guidance with the High Court in December.

It said the policy “puts detainees at risk of sexual harassment and sexual assault”, and said it was a violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects against torture and inhuman or degrading treatment.

Sex Matters said the policy “also puts female officers in a humiliating and dangerous position, as they may be pressured to search trans-identified men”.

One of the High Court judges who made Wednesday’s decision, Lord Hodge, said the ruling should not be read as “a triumph of one or more groups in our society at the expense of another”.

Government minister Karin Smyth told Sky News public bodies have been told to look at how equality laws are implemented following the ruling.

She said: “Obviously, public bodies have been asked to look at their own guidance.

“And we will do that very, very carefully.”

But she warned against public bodies making statements “that may alarm people”, telling them to take their time to look at their guidance.

Baroness Kishwer Falkner, chair of the UK’s Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), said the ruling means there is “no confusion” now.

She said the NHS will “have to change” its 2019 policy, which says transgender patients are entitled to be accommodated on single-sex wards matching how they identify.