Air traffic control boss says he was ‘most disliked person in the UK’ after flight chaos

Martin Rolfe, CEO of Nats, acknowledged being the "most disliked person in the UK" after two significant air traffic control failures in September disrupted flights. Airlines, particularly Ryanair, demanded his resignation following these incidents, which led to substantial financial losses. Despite the pressure, Rolfe expressed he was not considering stepping down and found enjoyment in ignoring calls for his resignation. He stated that the technical issues were unprecedented but resolved, though he could not guarantee future outages would not occur. The Civil Aviation Authority is investigating the incidents, with findings expected in early 2027. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander expressed her anger over the failures and emphasized the need for accountability and resilience in the system.