Quick answer: NATS says the technical connectivity issue at its Prestwick air traffic control centre in Scotland on Monday, September 21, 2026 has been fixed. The UK Civil Aviation Authority says some knock-on delays and cancellations may continue. Check the airline for the live status of your exact flight rather than assuming the wider airspace recovery means your itinerary is back on time.
## What happened at Prestwick?
NATS says it experienced a connectivity issue with part of its systems network at its Prestwick centre in Scotland early on September 21. Air traffic restrictions were applied while engineers investigated so traffic demand could be managed safely. NATS later said the issue was fixed and that it was working with airports and airlines to remove the remaining restrictions.
The organization also stated that this fault was specific to the operation in Scotland and was not the same problem as the separate NATS incident earlier in September. That distinction matters when reading older disruption stories or airline notices.
## Does the technical fault automatically mean compensation?
Not necessarily. On September 21, the UK Civil Aviation Authority said disruption directly caused by the Prestwick technical issue is likely to be treated as an “extraordinary circumstance” under UK passenger-rights rules. The CAA therefore says passengers are unlikely to receive fixed-sum compensation for delays or cancellations directly caused by this incident, including some knock-on effects.
That does not erase every passenger right. Compensation is a separate question from care, refunds and rerouting. The CAA also notes that its view of extraordinary circumstances is guidance rather than a final decision for every individual claim, because the facts of a specific flight can still matter.
## If your flight was cancelled, what choices should the airline offer?
For flights covered by UK261, the CAA says an airline must offer a passenger whose flight is cancelled a choice between a refund, rerouting at the earliest opportunity, or rerouting at a later date. During a major disruption, the earliest practical replacement may still involve a significant wait because aircraft, crews and seats can be out of position.
Do not cancel a booking on your own before understanding what the airline is offering. A voluntary cancellation can create different fare consequences from an airline cancellation. Use the airline's official disruption channel and save the messages that show how the original flight was handled.
## Care still matters while you wait
The CAA says airlines must look after covered passengers during qualifying delays. Depending on the circumstances and length of the disruption, this can include meals and refreshments and, when an overnight stay becomes necessary, hotel accommodation and transport between the airport and accommodation.
If an airline cannot provide the required care directly, the CAA says passengers may make reasonable arrangements themselves and seek reimbursement. Keep itemized receipts. Avoid excessive spending, luxury accommodation or purchases that are unlikely to be considered a reasonable consequence of the disruption.
## Which flights do the UK rules cover?
The CAA's September 21 guidance says the UK rules discussed here apply to flights departing from the United Kingdom and to flights arriving into the United Kingdom when operated by UK or EU carriers. Different rights can apply to a passenger arriving in the UK on a non-UK or non-EU carrier, including some flights from the United States.
That means two passengers disrupted by the same air traffic event can have different legal routes depending on the itinerary and operating carrier. Check the operating airline, departure airport and arrival direction before assuming a social-media summary applies to your booking.
## What should affected travelers do today?
Check the airline's current flight-status page and messages for the exact booking. Preserve the original itinerary, cancellation or delay notice, boarding pass, replacement-flight details and any reasonable expense receipts. If the airline offers rerouting, compare the proposed option with the refund and later-travel choices before making a voluntary change.
If you bought travel insurance or used a card with trip-disruption benefits, read the current policy language before making a claim. Insurance coverage is separate from the airline's legal obligations and can depend on the cause of disruption, delay length and expenses actually incurred.
## Status and freshness
Status: SERVICE RESTORED, with possible residual disruption. Verified September 22, 2026. NATS says the underlying Prestwick issue is fixed, while the CAA warns that knock-on disruption can continue. Because flight operations can normalize route by route, always use the airline for the latest status of a specific flight.