SEVERAL Leader readers have been getting in touch to tell us their experiences of the air traffic control failure chaos which is affecting countless holidays this week.

An “unusual piece of data” caused widespread flight disruption, an air traffic control (ATC) boss said.

Many UK holidaymakers are stranded overseas after around 2,000 flights were cancelled because of the issue.

Flights to and from UK airports were restricted for several hours on Monday (August 28) afternoon as the fault prevented flight plans from being processed automatically, meaning manual checks were required.

We asked our Leader readers; 'Have you been affected by the air traffic control failure chaos?'

Michelle Williams, from Mold, said: "Yep! Went to MCR airport this morning at 5am as advised by Jet2, to find no flight details on the departure board, after 1.5 hours received an email saying the whole holiday was cancelled!"

Angela Roberts, from Wrexham, told us: "My son’s flight from Palma Mallorca was supposed to be 10pm Sunday night, he arrived home 7am Tuesday morning."

Leanne Robinson added: "Not yet, maybe tomorrow if I can’t get back from Majorca on Ryanair! Time will tell!"

OTHER NEWS

Jenny Mitchell-Williams got in touch to say: "Yes, currently stuck in Turkey."

Jayne Williams told us: "My daughter is stuck in Tenerife with our granddaughter, but to be fair TUI have really looked after them."

Jessica Roberts, from Wrexham, said: "Stuck in Malta. Sat in airport for hours to be sent back to a hotel. Same again tomorrow it appears."

Lisa Jones wrote: "Realised around midnight that our flight hadn’t yet been cancelled so travelled to the airport…luckily it took off at 5.30am on time."

Jessica Jones said: "Yes 9 hours in Manchester yesterday (Monday, August 28) then whole holiday cancelled."

Ian Sewell said: "Yes stuck in Crete. (Been stuck in worse places)."

Meanwhile, others are stuck on this side of the world.

Tom Seal, 37, was due to fly home to Jersey from Liverpool John Lennon Airport on Wednesday after his original flight was cancelled on Monday.

He had been on holiday in Llangollen and had hoped to fly home two days earlier than the rest of the family to return to work as a postman.

He said: “I had got a taxi to the airport from Wales on Monday. I was through security and on my way to the gate when it popped up that the flight was cancelled.

“I had to spend about five hours in a queue and when I reached the end of it, I was told there was nothing they could do.

“I had to find a hotel in Liverpool, which was quite busy, but I managed to find somewhere.”

The Leader:

PIC: Tens of thousands more airline passengers suffered flight cancellations on Tuesday due to the knock-on impact of an air traffic control (ATC) fault. Credit: (Liam McBurney/PA)

His wife Catherine Seal, 34, said she had managed to get him booked on Wednesday’s easyJet flight with the rest of the family.

She said: “They had told him it would be tomorrow before he could get a flight, but I saw a space come up on this one so grabbed it.

“So far today things seem to be going well. The staff have all been lovely.”

Issuing the latest advice to customers,  Rob Bishton, Joint-Interim Chief Executive of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “We know there are many passengers overseas that are impacted by flight delays and cancellations which can be frustrating when wanting to get home after a trip abroad.

“The scale of the disruption has meant passengers have faced longer delays and in some cases are waiting several days for alternative flights, but airlines are working around the clock, putting on extra capacity to resolve the issue.

“If you are still waiting to come home, airlines have a responsibility to look after you while you wait. This means providing you with meals, refreshments and hotel accommodation. If airlines cannot do this, you can organise your own meals and accommodation then claim costs back.

“We are engaging with airlines and know that more flights are being provided, but in circumstances where this has not been possible due to the volume of passengers, consumers can book their own alternative air travel and claim the cost back from their airline.

“If you end up paying for things yourself or booking your own replacement flight or hotel, keep every receipt and make sure your claim is not excessive.

“Clear and accurate communication is important during times of disruption, and we are working closely with airlines to rectify any instances of wrong information being provided to passengers.”