The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced on September 25 the terms of reference for its independent review into the NATS technical incident of September 8, 2026.
The review follows a request from UK transport secretary Heidi Alexander in the wake of the incident, which the CAA said disrupted travelers and saw more than 2,000 flights delayed, canceled or diverted.
NATS published a preliminary report on September 18 that said the incident was caused by a software defect. The CAA review will consider NATS’s report on the causes of the disruption, understand the impact on consumers and identify any additional actions needed to strengthen confidence in the resilience of the UK’s air traffic management system in the future.
The scope will include:
- NATS’s strategy and plans for the renewal, replacement and modernization of critical operational systems, including how business continuity plans could be improved for existing systems and how well NATS is set to deliver modernization of those systems;
- How well the recommendations from previous reviews have been implemented;
- The effectiveness of the CAA’s regulatory oversight arrangements; and
- Lessons that could be drawn from international best practice, including in relation to resilience and recovery from significant disruption.
The review will also be informed by other similar events, including those of Monday, September 21.
An initial report will go to the UK secretary of state by the end of January 2027, with the final report due by March 8, 2027.
An “independent challenge panel,” whose members will be appointed by the CAA and approved by the secretary of state, will provide robust expert challenge and advice. The CAA review team will engage with NATS, airlines, airports, passenger groups and other stakeholders throughout the review.
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