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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Georgia Bates

MoD forced to deny military jet error caused air traffic control chaos

Travellers lay on the floor with their luggage at the South Terminal of London Gatwick airport near Crawley, southern England on September 9, 2026, following second day of major disruption due an issue affecting the NATS air traffic control systems - (AFP/Getty)

The Ministry of Defence has been forced to deny reports that data entered by a military jet was behind the air traffic control system failure that hit UK airports this week.

UK airports were thrown into chaos this week by an apparent technical issue at National Air Traffic Services (Nats), which caused more than 2,000 flights arriving or departing the UK to be cancelled following the fault on Tuesday.

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