LIVE: Manchester Airport urges customers to contact their airline amid major air traffic control fault - latest updates

Passengers are facing flight chaos across the UK this afternoon due to a technical air traffic control fault, it has been confirmed.

Flights have been grounded at major airports, with thousands of passengers left waiting on the tarmac. This is due to a technical issue impacting air traffic control provider Nats.

In a statement, Gatwick Airport said the technical issue meant there are currently no departures while the situation is being resolved, which is also affecting 'all outbound flights across the UK'.

This is said to be due to the number of aircraft flying through the London control area needing to be limited.

A number of passengers have taken to social media explaining how they're stuck on board their planes and unable to take off, including in Manchester.

"We are the same @manairport. Stuck on an @easyJet waiting to fly to Cyprus," one wrote.

A statement from air traffic control provider Nats said: “As a result of a technical issue at Nats Swanwick air traffic control centre, we are limiting the number of aircraft flying in the London control area in order to ensure safety, which is always our first priority."

This is a breaking incident. Updates to follow below.

The BBC has reported that a total of 45 departures from UK airports and 35 arrivals have been cancelled so far, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.

A statement from the company to BBC News also said that Heathrow has seen the highest number of cancellations, including 16 departures and seven arrivals.

The Manchester Evening News understands that six flights have been cancelled at Manchester Airport, including three departures and three arrivals.

ATC provider NATS has said its engineers have now “restored the system that was affected” and it