I’m assuming you’re referring to the recent air traffic control (ATC) failure in the UK that caused widespread flight disruptions, as this aligns with your mention of “chaos at airports in Great Britain affecting thousands.” This event, reported on July 30, 2025, significantly impacted major UK airports and had ripple effects on global air travel. Below is a concise news-style article addressing the situation, incorporating relevant details from recent reports.
UK Air Traffic Control Failure Sparks Chaos at Airports, Disrupting Thousands of Passengers Worldwide
London, UK — July 30, 2025
A major technical failure at the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) Swanwick control centre in Hampshire grounded all outbound flights across the UK on Wednesday afternoon, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and causing widespread disruption to global flight schedules. The outage, attributed to a radar system failure, affected major airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Luton, and Stansted, with knock-on effects felt as far as Europe and beyond.
Chaos on the Ground
The technical issue, which lasted approximately 20 minutes, forced a nationwide suspension of departures, leaving passengers stuck on planes or in airport terminals. At London’s Gatwick Airport, no outbound flights could depart during the outage, while inbound flights continued to land. Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport, warned passengers to check flight statuses, with delays persisting into the evening. One passenger, Jane Ainsworth, reported to the Daily Mail that her flight from Kos to Birmingham was diverted to Brussels, while another described circling near Ben Nevis as UK airspace restrictions prevented landing.
Aviation analytics firm Cirium reported 3,080 scheduled departures from UK airports on Wednesday, equating to over 577,000 seats. The disruption, occurring at the start of the school summer holidays, affected hundreds of thousands of passengers, with estimates suggesting delays could extend into the weekend. Social media posts captured the frustration, with one traveler noting, “London airspace has closed just before I was due to take off, absolutely typical,” highlighting the chaos on the ground.
Global Ripple Effects
The outage’s impact extended beyond the UK, as flights destined for British airports were diverted to European hubs like Paris’s Charles de Gaulle and Brussels. Eurocontrol, the European air traffic agency, warned of delays exceeding three hours for UK-bound flights, with a “recovery rate” limiting the number of aircraft accepted into UK airspace. This caused a backlog that disrupted international flight schedules, particularly for airlines like British Airways, easyJet, and Ryanair, which operate extensive networks connecting the UK to Europe and beyond.
The incident follows a pattern of UK aviation disruptions, including a similar NATS failure in August 2023 that grounded 1,200 flights and cost airlines £100 million in compensation. Experts warn that the interconnected nature of global air travel amplifies such incidents, with aircraft and crew out of position causing cascading delays worldwide.
Response and Criticism
NATS announced by 4:43 PM that the technical issue was resolved, stating, “Our systems are fully operational, and air traffic capacity is returning to normal.” However, the backlog persisted, with airlines working to clear delayed flights. British Airways described the issue as “entirely outside of our control” and apologized to customers, while Gatwick urged passengers to check with airlines for updates.
Critics, including aviation commentator Jim McMahon, called for the resignation of NATS CEO Martin Rolfe, citing repeated failures and “shambolic” service. A Department for Transport source emphasized the need for an urgent investigation to rule out hostile actions, such as cyberattacks, and ensure the resilience of critical infrastructure. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander acknowledged the disruption, urging passengers to monitor airport advisories.
Ongoing Concerns and Passenger Rights
The incident underscores vulnerabilities in the UK’s aviation infrastructure, particularly during peak travel periods. Simon Calder, travel correspondent for The Independent, noted that the lack of slack in the system—exemplified by Heathrow’s 80-second landing intervals and Gatwick’s 65-second take-off/landing schedule—exacerbates disruptions. Climate change is also expected to increase weather-related chaos, with experts like Dr. Ella Gilbert warning of more frequent extreme weather events.
Under UK and EU regulations, passengers affected by cancellations or delays exceeding two hours are entitled to support, including food, drink, and accommodation if necessary. Compensation may apply for delays over three hours, starting at £220 for short-haul flights, unless caused by “extraordinary circumstances” like technical failures. Travelers are advised to contact their airlines for rebooking or refunds.
As airports work to clear the backlog, passengers are urged to check flight statuses and arrive early. The UK government and NATS face mounting pressure to bolster aviation infrastructure to prevent future chaos, ensuring safer and more reliable travel for millions.
Sources: The Daily Mail, The Telegraph, The Independent, Times Radio, aviation analytics firm Cirium
This article focuses on the specific ATC failure on July 30, 2025, as it matches your query about chaos at UK airports affecting thousands. If you were referring to a different event or want more details on specific airports or global impacts, please clarify, and I can tailor the response further.