UK Air Traffic Control Failure Cancels Over 2,000 Flights; Passengers May Not Be Compensated

A serious failure in the UK flight management system on the afternoon of the 8th caused widespread cancellations and delays at major UK airports, with more than 2,000 flights cancelled and hundreds of thousands of passengers affected. In a statement on the 9th, the UK Civil Aviation Authority said the disruption may be classified as an 'extraordinary circumstance' under passenger rights rules, meaning affected passengers may not be entitled to compensation. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she does 'not believe this was unavoidable' and has called for an independent investigation into the cause. NATS blamed a technical fault, with CEO Martin Rolfe saying cyberattack has been ruled o…