‘We’re not really sure what to do’: Airlines rush getting planes in the air from backlogged UK flights due to issues in ‘flight processing system’

Airlines scrambled Wednesday to dig out from the backlog triggered by technical problems at Britain’s air traffic control system that has forced the cancellation of more than 1,750 flights.

Delays continued for a second day Wednesday, rippling across 15 U.K. airports and beyond as airlines and airports worked to clear a huge backlog of canceled and delayed flights. The problems stranded passengers for hours on airport runways and in terminals.

Flight delays were expected to continue through the day Wednesday as airlines rebook stranded passengers and work to reposition aircraft left at the wrong airports by the cancellations.

NATS, formerly known as National Air Traffic Services, which operates Britain’s air traffic control system, attributed the problems to “an issue in our flight processing system.” The company said it was supporting airlines and airports while they recover from the “ongoing disruption,” although the original........

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