Nats warned of potential computer glitch 'months ago'

National Air Traffic Services bosses were warned that plans to deal with any technical failures lacked "detail and clarity," four months before Friday's computer glitch caused widespread disruption to UK airports, according to the Independent on Sunday.

National Air Traffic Services (Nats) insisted yesterday that the failure was one that had "not been seen before", but the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) told the partly privatised agency this summer it needed to be better prepared after a similarly devastating IT glitch a year ago.

As Britain's major airports returned to normal service this weekend, experts were also warning a huge redundancy programme at Nats might have deepened the problem, and result in serious future meltdowns, the paper reports.

Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin will expect tough questioning over industry cost-cutting when he faces a powerful committee of MPs tomorrow.

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