The transport secretary has apologised for yesterday’s nationwide air traffic control fault – saying issues on this scale “haven’t happened for a decade”.

Mark Harper stressed that technical experts have ruled out a cybersecurity incident, with the Civil Aviation Authority set to investigate.

“Something on this scale hasn’t happened for almost a decade – normally the system works very well,” Mr Harper told Sky News.

Britons sleeping on floors in airports – live updates

Thousands of passengers were affected by yesterday’s disruption – with aviation analysts warning there could be knock-on effects for days to come.

And there have been reports of heated scenes at airports across Europe, with “fists flying” in Palma as exasperated tourists struggle to return home.

Heathrow Airport says services will remain “significantly disrupted” today – and passengers are being urged to contact their airline before heading to the terminal.

UK air traffic control latest: ‘Significant’ disruption and delays expected at UK airports – and impacts could last days

Air traffic control chaos: Hundreds of passengers left ‘stranded’ in ‘absolutely shocking’ conditions

Air traffic control chaos: What are your rights if your flight is affected?

More than 60 flights have been cancelled at the west London airport – made up of at least 32 departures and 31 arrivals.

British Airways appears to be the worst affected airline.

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Elsewhere, London Gatwick said it plans to operate a normal schedule on Tuesday following the disruption.

However, passengers have been advised to check the status of their flight with their airline before travelling to the airport.

London Stansted also said it planned to run a normal flight schedule on Tuesday, but added “our terminal may be busier than anticipated”.

And major UK airlines such as Tui and BA warned of “significant delays” for passengers amid changes to schedules, with airports urging travellers to check with their flight operators before they head to the terminal, in case of delays and changes.

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