UK air traffic control service rules out cyber attack after over 2,000 flights canceled

The head of the UK's main air traffic control provider on Wednesday ruled out a cyber attack after a technical outage led to more than 2,000 canceled flights.

Martin Rolfe, chief executive of National Air Traffic Services (NATS), apologized to passengers after the outage caused widespread disruption Tuesday and Wednesday.

Speaking to the BBC, Rolfe said a “thorough” investigation would take place but ruled out a cyber attack.

While he said the system was now operating normally, “of course, there's a huge backlog” of flights and passengers, he added.

Asked whether the incident showed NATS' systems were not fit for purpose, Rolfe replied: “I don't think so, no.”

Meanwhile, the BBC reported that Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has summoned Rolfe to a meeting to answer questions about the disruption.

She is also expected to tell lawmakers that a cyber attack was "categorically" not the cause of the fault.

Some 1,750 flights were canceled Tuesday, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium, affecting tens of thousands of passengers. At least 291 more flights were canceled Wednesday, the firm said early Wednesday afternoon.

The Telegraph earlier reported that equipment at NATS' headquarters in Swanwick, near Southampton, had failed.