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UK Transport Secretary Summons NATS Chief as Cancellations Pass 1,900

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Courtroom-sketch editorial illustration of delayed airline passengers with suitcases waiting in a queue inside a large airport departure hall, rendered in warm ochre and slate-blue pastel strokes.

UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander summoned NATS chief executive Martin Rolfe to explain the air-traffic-control failure and the network’s recovery. More than 1,900 flights into and out of UK airports had been cancelled by 11:00 UTC on September 9, after 1,750 of 5,800 scheduled flights were cancelled the previous day. NATS said a problem in its flight-processing system had been fixed and normal operation restored, but displaced aircraft and crews left a prolonged backlog across the aviation network. Rolfe said a cyberattack had been ruled out and promised a full investigation.

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