UK air traffic collapse ‘one in 15 million’: NATS

LONDON, Sept 6 (Reuters) – The air traffic crisis that hit Britain last week was caused by a “one in 15 million” event, the head of traffic control provider NATS said, after citing a plan of flight with two markers with identical names as the reason for the chaos.

Thousands of passengers were stranded abroad for days after 1,500 flights were canceled on August 28, during one of the busiest travel periods of the summer.

“This was a one in 15 million chance,” NATS director general Martin Rolfe told the BBC.

“We have processed 15 million flight plans with this system so far and we have never seen this before.”

The NATS report released on Wednesday said the flight plan included two identically named but separate waypoint markers outside UK airspace, forcing the system into failsafe mode.

“Under these circumstances, the system could not reject the flight plan without a clear understanding of the potential impact it could have had. It also could not be allowed through and risk presenting air traffic controllers with incorrect and critical information. security,” NATS said.

NATS said the flight plan was in compliance with Eurocontrol’s flight planning distribution system.

Britain’s civil aviation regulator said it would review the circumstances surrounding the ruling.

“If there is evidence to suggest that NATS may have breached its licensing and legal obligations, we will consider whether further action is necessary,” Rob Bishton, the UK CAA’s acting joint chief executive, said in a statement.

That means NATS could end up footing part of the bill for the chaos.

Airlines have said the episode could cost them up to 100 million pounds ($126 million) as passengers whose flights were canceled will be able to claim back costs from hotels they stayed at or new tickets they bought. .

The head of NATS said that the problem not repeat.

The CAA said the event was now understood and if it happened again it should be fixed quickly with no effect to the aviation system.

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