UK CAA review to assess NATS leadership after September 8 air traffic failure

September 25, 2026 at 07:37 PM2 min

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The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has set the scope of its independent review into the September 8, 2026 NATS system failure that disrupted over 2,000 flights. The review will assess NATS leadership and its plans for modernizing critical air traffic management systems. An initial report is due to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander by end of January 2027, with a final report by March 8, 2027.

Key Facts

The CAA announced the review's terms of reference on September 25, 2026, covering the NATS technical incident of September 8, 2026.
NATS attributed the failure to a software defect in a small part of the National Airspace System (NAS) in a preliminary report published September 18, 2026.
Ryanair called for NATS CEO Martin Rolfe to be sacked on September 9, 2026, citing repeated collapses of UK ATC.
The CAA will deliver an initial report to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander by end of January 2027 and a final report by March 8, 2027.

Review Scope

The CAA's review will consider NATS' report on the causes of the disruption and seek to understand the impact on consumers. It will assess NATS' strategy for renewal, replacement, and modernization of critical operational systems, including business continuity plans. The review will also examine how well recommendations from previous reviews have been implemented and the effectiveness of the CAA's regulatory oversight. Lessons will be drawn from international best practice on resilience and recovery from significant disruption.

Leadership Assessment

The CAA's 11-page document states the review will assess whether NATS has a credible, appropriately governed, and deliverable approach to renewing critical air traffic management infrastructure. It will evaluate whether NATS possesses the organizational capability, capacity, and leadership necessary to deliver and sustain changes over the coming decade. Ryanair publicly demanded the removal of NATS CEO Martin Rolfe, stating he should be replaced with someone competent to run the UK ATC system.

Reporting Timeline

An initial CAA report will be provided to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander by the end of January 2027. The final report is due by March 8, 2027. An independent challenge panel, appointed by the CAA and approved by the Secretary of State, will provide expert challenge and advice.