Fraudsters exploit NATS airspace disruption to target UK passengers with fake flight compensation claims

What is this scam?

Following a NATS (National Air Traffic Services) technical disruption that caused widespread UK flight delays and cancellations in September 2026, fraudsters targeted affected passengers via email, text, and social media with fake compensation offers. Scam messages impersonate airlines or claims management firms, offering to secure statutory UK261 compensation on the victim's behalf in exchange for personal details and upfront fees. Legitimate UK261 compensation is a statutory right passengers can claim directly through their airline at no cost — there is no deadline that requires urgency, no fee to pay, and no reason to hand over banking details to a third party.

Example scam message

Red flags to look out for

• The message creates urgency — threatening a fine, missed delivery, or account closure.
• Links lead to unofficial domains that don't match the real company's website.
• You weren't expecting this message and can't verify the event it references.
• It asks you to confirm payment details or personal information via a link.
• The sender's number or email address doesn't match the company's official contact.

What to do if you receive this

1. Do not call any numbers or click any links in the message.
2. Log in to your account directly via the official website or app to check for any real alerts.
3. Forward the message to 7726 or email report@phishing.gov.uk.
4. Report it to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk.