Air traffic control chaos due to ‘one in 15 million event’

The head of the UK’s air traffic control service has said the system failure that led to cancellations and delays in late August was caused by a ‘one in 15 million event’.

Martin Rolfe said the system shut itself down automatically in just a matter of seconds, disrupting the flights of hundreds of thousands of travellers.

Airlines have responded by demanding to be reimbursed, after they were forced to put on more flights and provide accommodation for passengers.