MoD denies military jet caused UK air traffic control meltdown
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Neutral summary
The UK Ministry of Defence has denied reports that a military aircraft triggered the air traffic control failure that disrupted flights on 8–9 September. The Financial Times, citing four sources, reported that a fighter jet submitted an incorrect flight plan that introduced “spurious” data into the NATS system, leading to more than 2,100 cancellations or delays and affecting around 330,000 passengers. NATS chief executive Martin Rolfe, who received £2 million in bonuses, faces calls for resignation from airlines including Ryanair and Wizz. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she had summoned Rolfe for a “full and frank” discussion, expressing “very significant anger and frustration” on behalf of passengers.
How it was framed
Outlets: 10. Countries: 2. Facts in the shared core: 3.
Publication timeline
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The Independent (outlet profile)
Gatwick Airport passenger hailed ‘hero’ after helping easyJet staff deal with travel chaos. At least 300,000 people were impacted by a technical glitch that caused mass cancellations this week
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The Independent (outlet profile)
The ‘human megaphone’ who helped overwhelmed airport staff during air traffic control crisis
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The Independent (outlet profile)
Campbeds, snacks and baby food: Should airports have contingency plans for disruption?. After more than 2,000 flights were grounded in a single day, MPs are asking why UK airports still have no formal crisis plan for ma…
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Daily Mail (outlet profile)
'I have a very loud voice and am happy to help': Hero of Gatwick reveals why he turned into human megaphone to help stranded passengers - and how it took him 25 hours to get home. Kurtis Toy, 36, received applause from…
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GB News (outlet profile)
Air traffic control boss given ultimatum over travel chaos as organisation warned against ‘marking own homework’. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has issued an ultimatum to the National Air Traffic Services (Nats) b…
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The Independent (outlet profile)
Ryanair boss demands ‘overpaid, failing’ air traffic chief be sacked after UK airport crisis. Ryanair called the Nats back-up system is ‘useless’ after more than 2,000 flights were affected as the result of a technical…
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Daily Mail (outlet profile)
Aviation minister ridiculed as it emerges he boasted about air traffic control being 'well prepared' and given 'increased resilience' - just a day before it went into meltdown, stranding thousands of travellers. Keir Ma…
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Daily Express (outlet profile)
Air traffic control boss handed £2m bonuses despite airport chaos. The CEO has faced fresh calls to resign after around 2,200 UK flights were cancelled this week.
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Financial Times (outlet profile)
Military jet triggered UK’s latest air traffic meltdown. Flight plan submitted by one aircraft sparked turmoil that grounded thousands of planes this week
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Коммерсантъ (outlet profile)
FT: масштабный сбой в работе аэропортов Великобритании вызван военным самолетом. Сбой в управлении воздушным движением Великобритании, из-за которого 8–9 сентября в стране были отменены или задержаны более 2,1 тыс. рейс…
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The Mirror (outlet profile)
Air traffic control glitch that grounded hundreds of flights 'caused by one military aircraft'. The news comes as tens of thousands of passengers hit by delays and cancellations have been told they are unlikely to be du…
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Daily Express (outlet profile)
UK air traffic control outage that grounded hundreds of flights ‘caused by military jet'. Thousands of passengers were left stranded
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GB News (outlet profile)
Military jet sparked UK airport chaos after flooding 'spurious' flight data into air traffic control system. A flight plan submitted by a UK military aircraft triggered a chain of technical failures that brought Britain…
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The Independent (outlet profile)
Ryanair chief calls for air traffic control boss to be dismissed after days of flight disruption
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The Independent (outlet profile)
MoD forced to deny military jet error caused air traffic control chaos. The disruption has prompted calls for Martin Rolfe, chief executive of Nats, to resign
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Belfast Telegraph (outlet profile)
MoD denies ‘military jet’ error caused air traffic control outage
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Evening Standard (outlet profile)
MoD denies ‘military jet’ error caused air traffic control outage. The disruption has prompted calls for Martin Rolfe, chief executive of air traffic services provider Nats, to resign.
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iNews (outlet profile)
MoD denies air traffic control chaos caused by ‘military jet error’. A report has claimed a military jet flight plan may have been responsible for the fault
Factual core
- An air traffic control glitch grounded hundreds of flights in the UK.
- The UK Ministry of Defence denied that a military jet caused the air traffic control outage.
- The disruption prompted calls for Martin Rolfe, chief executive of Nats, to resign.