Flights grounded over ‘technical issue’ at Gatwick Airport

Flights were on Wednesday grounded at London Gatwick Airport due to a ‘technical issue’ at the Nats air traffic control centre in Swanwick.

Affected passengers are facing significant disruption, with no departures currently taking place from the airport, local media have reported.

The issue is impacting outbound flights across the UK, and Nats has confirmed it is limiting aircraft movements in the London control area “to ensure safety”.

According to MyLondon news website, Engineers are working to resolve the problem, but there is no clear timeline for when normal operations will resume.

Inbound flights are still landing, but passengers are being urged to check with their airline before travelling.

Gatwick airport said it is affecting all outbound flights across the UK.

Birmingham airport said, “departing flights from many UK airports have been suspended”.

All departures from Edinburgh Airport are currently being held too.

Several flights scheduled to arrive at UK airports are being forced to conduct holding patterns or divert elsewhere, the medium reported.

It quoted the UK’s air traffic authority as saying the system in question has been restored. But disruption is likely to continue for a while.