Lightning strike disrupts flights at Luton Airport

Flights leaving the airport are experiencing delays and cancellations due to the earlier disruption A lightning strike on air traffic control systems at Luton Airport has affected flight landings and schedules. A spokesperson for the airport said operations were suspended between 17:40 and 19:15 BST, "resulting in a number of cancellations and diversions" to about 30 flights. The disruption had coincided with a "period of severe weather" in the area that had resulted in flash flooding, they added. The spokesperson apologised to people affected and advised passengers to check the status of their flight with their airline. The air traffic control services provider NATS said severe thunderstorms had affected services at both Luton and Stansted airports. A lightning strike during the Thursday storms had temporarily taken out air traffic control systems, the airport said "Flights to and from London Luton Airport have now resumed following an earlier suspension of operations caused by a lightning strike affecting Air Traffic Control equipment," the spokesperson said. "The disruption coincided with a period of severe weather across the area, resulting in flash flooding on local roads, and the airport approach. "As operations return to normal, some flights may continue to experience delays or cancellations as airlines work to recover their schedules." Gary Nash from Bedfordshire had been due to fly to Spain for a funeral Gary Nash, from Barton-le-Clay in Bedfordshire, had been due to fly to Spain to attend a family funeral in Alicante on Friday, but his flight was cancelled. He said he now had to travel up to Birmingham to catch a different flight to get him there on time. "It's chaotic, absolutely chaotic," he said.