The UK Civil Aviation Authority has launched an independent review into the 8 September software failure at NATS and will examine whether the air traffic control provider has the leadership, governance and delivery capability needed to carry out its modernisation plans safely. The review follows a disruption that caused widespread cancellations, delays and diversions across UK airports.
The CAA will look at the causes of the outage, the impact on passengers, NATS’s plans to renew and replace critical systems, and whether earlier recommendations were properly implemented. It will also consider lessons from international best practice and the effectiveness of regulatory oversight. An independent challenge panel will advise the regulator.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander ordered the review after the incident, which renewed pressure on NATS chief executive Martin Rolfe. The CAA is due to provide an initial report to the government by the end of January 2027, with the final report due on 8 March 2027.