A radar problem used within the UK's air traffic control system caused chaos at airports in the UK and beyond on Wednesday. The fault lasted a mere 20 minutes, but was enough to ground planes across the country, causing 150 flight cancellations and delays that have continued into Thursday.

Nearly two dozen flights to and from UK airports were cancelled on Thursday, a day after technical problems with Britain's air traffic control system caused widespread disruption across the country.

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander is to meet the chief executive of the UK’s air traffic service on Thursday, amid criticism of his performance following a systems failure that briefly grounded nearly all flights around London.