lam here i am here at heathrow airport, britain's busiest tab, where the authorities are working to try to minimise the impact on passengers as much as possible. and spain prosecutors open preliminary sex abuse probe over luis rubiales kiss. an urgent meeting of the football federation is due today. hello, i'm nancy kacungira, welcome to verified live, three hours of breaking stories, and checking out the truth behind them. we have two big stories this hour. the first one is here in the uk, where a technical issue has hit air traffic control systems, with thousands of people facing long delays at airports. and our other big story, afp is reporting that prosecutors

in spain have opened a preliminary investigation into spanish fa president luis rubiales kiss on the lips of playerjenni hermoso on grounds it could constitute a crime of "sexual assault". the spanish football federation is also currently meeting now. we'll have more on this story in a moment. but first a technical issue has hit air traffic control systems across the country. britain's national air traffic services has said it is affecting their ability to automatically process flight plans which are currently being input manually meaning they cannot process them at the same volume. that is causing the traffic flow restrictions. monday marks the close of a holiday weekend in the uk — so it's usually a very busy day for flights. in the last hour, we've had confirmation from airports across the country that they're facing delays and cancellations. airports in edinburgh, manchester, birmingham, and multiple airports in london such as heathrow gatwick and luton have released statements saying they're

affected by the system outage. our reporter luxmy gopal is in heathrow for us. what is the situation there? i what is the situation there? i am here at heathrow, _ what is the situation there? i am here at heathrow, which - what is the situation there? i —n here at heathrow, which is the country's biggest and busiest airport, in fact it is the biggest in europe and in the past couple of hours i have actually seen at least half a dozen planes take off from here, i am half a dozen planes take off from here, iam not half a dozen planes take off from here, i am not much of a plane spotter so i cannot tell you which airlines they are from, but it does underline the fact that uk airspace is not closed, which is what the national air traffic services, it is not closed, flights are still going in and out but as my colleague said earlier at a much slower pace than usual because they are having to process the flight plans manually rather than automatically, which is what takes a bit of time. here at heathrow, the advice for passengers is check with your airlines in terms of what to do and what the travel

situation is because it is still a developing situation in that there is still not much certainty around the extent of the disruption and also on how long it might take to resolve this technical issue. i want to give you a bit of an update that we have got in terms of trying to assess what the disruption might be. if you are watching earlier, you would have heard me give you the information from the aviation data firm which told us that there are around 3000 flights due to depart today and 3000 due to arrive, but that has been updated in the past half an hour, so i want to bring you that update. say that their data shows 232 fights have been cancelled which were due to depart today which is the equivalent of 8% of all departures. already 8% of all

departures. already 8% of all departures due to, due from uk airports have been cancelled so far. and in terms of 271 flights that were due to arrive so far, the equivalent of around 9% of arrivals, they are caveat thing it by saying this is only cancelled flights and a lot of the services have eight hours or more delays which they say will then inevitably result in cancellation. we have been hearing the tales from passengers currently experiencing delays at the moment. that is giving you an idea of what the scale looks like at the moment but that won't really become clear until the day goes on and of course given that tess is a bank holiday for much of the uk and the end of the school holidays it gives a sense of how much disruption there is going to be.

of how much disruption there is going to be-_ of how much disruption there is going to loo-— of how much disruption there is uaointo be. ., , . going to be. thank you very much. still have no _ going to be. thank you very much. still have no idea _ going to be. thank you very much. still have no idea how— going to be. thank you very much. still have no idea how long - going to be. thank you very much. still have no idea how long this - still have no idea how long this could go on but thank you for being there for us with the latest. let's bring injohn strickland, he is an independent air transport consultant with jls consulting. great to have you on the programme. we have been hearing about this technical issue and been told that the delays are there because things have to be done manually, what does that mean? ,, , , ., ., that mean? simply, we are dealing with such a — that mean? simply, we are dealing with such a high _ that mean? simply, we are dealing with such a high value _ that mean? simply, we are dealing with such a high value of— that mean? simply, we are dealing with such a high value of traffic - with such a high value of traffic not just to with such a high value of traffic notjust to and from the uk but over flying aircraft as well, that is not possible to process with, controls would almost have pieces of paper to push them around screens to allocate airspace and keep aircraft separate from each other but the fallback

situation is to go back to that old methodology of controllers manually tracking flights. they cannot handle the volume with the manpower available so the key thing is the operation is still going but at a much reduced level, to keep that focus on safety, the volumes are much reduced, down to a handful of flights, primarily long—haul aircraft and a very small number departing winner normally if you look at any map winners normally it would be covered with air—traffic activity. would be covered with air-traffic activi . ~ . . , ., activity. much reduced. it is a huge knock-on effect _ activity. much reduced. it is a huge knock-on effect of _ activity. much reduced. it is a huge knock-on effect of flights - activity. much reduced. it is a huge knock-on effect of flights that - activity. much reduced. it is a huge knock-on effect of flights that are l knock—on effect of flights that are left and have been cancelled or

delayed. left and have been cancelled or dela ed. ., ., , , delayed. you are completely right. while we cannot _ delayed. you are completely right. while we cannot tell _ delayed. you are completely right. while we cannot tell how— delayed. you are completely right. while we cannot tell how long - delayed. you are completely right. while we cannot tell how long this| while we cannot tell how long this may last, a significant amount of damage has already been done because this hall that has been going on for a few hours already, since late morning, has had an impact. aircraft have not been able to depart either from the uk or a large number of aircraft have not been able to leave for the uk, certainly in terms of large numbers of european flights, it was up bank quality today, many people would be coming back from holiday, flights from all over europe are full, airlines are running full schedule, using as many aircraft and crews as they can at this peak time of year. the same applies to long—haul flights, some of those may now get held if they are not already airborne. and because of the busyness at this peak season, this is going to spill over definitely into tomorrow and indeed beyond because airlines once they get capacity opened up again to a

more normal and hopefully completely normal level, and they start to move aircraft, they then have to deal with the carnage so to speak that has already happened. crews that have run it of hours. and those crews being exhausted of the legal duty hours, then the ripple effect, the domino effect that has in tomorrow and not being able to solve the problems from today and also there is the matter to rebook people because pretty well all flights to popular destinations, certainly to and from the mediterranean and the states, these flights are full currently. to states, these flights are full currently-— states, these flights are full currentl . ., , . currently. to put it in technical terms, currently. to put it in technical terms. it _ currently. to put it in technical terms. it is — currently. to put it in technical terms. it is a _ currently. to put it in technical terms, it is a mess. _ currently. to put it in technical terms, it is a mess. in - currently. to put it in technical terms, it is a mess. in terms | currently. to put it in technical| terms, it is a mess. in terms of currently. to put it in technical- terms, it is a mess. in terms of who bears the brunt of it, what obligations does the airport have towards airlines? what obligations do airlines have towards their

passengers? seeing as this is something completely out of their control. it something completely out of their control. , ., something completely out of their control. , . ., . ., control. it is all part of the chain that makes _ control. it is all part of the chain that makes no — control. it is all part of the chain that makes up transport, - control. it is all part of the chain that makes up transport, they . control. it is all part of the chain i that makes up transport, they have to play their part so airlines are waiting eagerly for some positive information to hear from the resolution or at least progress in freeing up capacity. airlines are always going to do their best to look after customers and we need to be supportive in that and indeed will be by airport but airlines have the biggest burden because now once you have the passengers booked and need to fly them, they are the ones that have to work out how they get those flights moving again and what priority they give to which services actually operates and how they meet out the unavoidable cancellations, you mention summer cancelled already, that list of cancelled flights will extend. airlines have

gone for far flights will extend. airlines have gone forfar more flights will extend. airlines have gone for far more automated approaches in getting passengers rebooked in any disrupting and that is positive and negative, because automated systems working properly allow more project rebooked more quickly, the challenge is the manpower and stress customers and staff in the face—to—face situations at the airport when it is a lot of unknown factors coming into this in terms of how long things take in finding the capacity to get people rebooked. , ., ., , , finding the capacity to get people rebooked. , . ., , , ., rebooked. understandably there are many frustrated _ rebooked. understandably there are many frustrated passengers - rebooked. understandably there arej many frustrated passengers working out what to do next, some with lights in the coming days, not quite sure what to do. what is your advice for passengers or would—be passengers caught up? the for passengers or would-be passengers caught up? the only ossibili passengers caught up? the only possibility is _ passengers caught up? the only possibility is to _ passengers caught up? the only possibility is to keep _ passengers caught up? the only possibility is to keep closely - passengers caught up? the only possibility is to keep closely in l possibility is to keep closely in touch with the airline you are flying with, typically that will be

via an airline app, a website, looking to see what airlines have updated because this really is a movable feast, what could be showing as on—time and no problem now could rapidly change to being significantly delayed or even cancelled and to be fair to airlines and their staff in this situation, it is not that they tried to evade giving customers answers, theyjust do not know themselves, it really is moving as we speak and until we get some certainty about the system working again, only then can this rather disjointed jigsaw which has been thrown into disarray start to been thrown into disarray start to be put back together again and people forward to more normal travel patterns in the days ahead. thank ou ve patterns in the days ahead. thank you very much — patterns in the days ahead. thank you very much for _ patterns in the days ahead. thank you very much for talking - patterns in the days ahead. thank you very much for talking to - patterns in the days ahead. thank you very much for talking to us. i

irish airline aer lingus has released a statement saying... manchester airport has released a statement. those are some of the statements we are getting. birmingham airport has also released a statement.

let's show you these pictures now. there is a greatly reduced number of flights overhead after this technical issue hit uk air traffic control systems, thousands of people facing long delays at airports, so the uk airspace is not closed, but it has brought in traffic restrictions to maintain safety. as we were hearing earlier, all these flight plans are now being processed manually because of that technical issue making it impossible to do automatically so while work is going on at a much slower rate which means

many cancellations, that is the scene at heathrow, we will keep your cross what's happening. and we will now bring in the transport correspondent for the times. thank you for joining us. huge disruption this is causing? joining us. huge disruption this is causina ? , , joining us. huge disruption this is causinu? , , ., ., joining us. huge disruption this is causinl? , , ., ., causing? this is having a massive im act causing? this is having a massive impact across _ causing? this is having a massive impact across europe, _ causing? this is having a massive impact across europe, pictures i i impact across europe, pictures i have seen from departure boards in spain, france, italy, croatia oh ac of read for flights coming to and from the uk. in fact we know many of the british airlines are now proactively cancelling into the evening as they look at the schedule and work out what might be possible to run in light of the restrictions. we have heard from nats saying we're

working at pace to fix this and the aviation is doing all she can to support them. but there is no indication of how long this camera alone and there is of course a knock—on effect, leaving many passengers worried or stranded. there will be hundreds of thousands of people sitting in airport departure lounges in europe right now it is one of the busiest travel days of the year, most of them looking at significant delays to their flight into this evening but tens of thousands of people's simply will not travel today at all today. increasingly the advice is to check ahead and travel only if you see that there is a slot, many are proactively cancelling flights, it's worth mentioning there is no compensation. i have seen tweets going around saying people will be owed compensation, that incorrect

because the situation is outside of the control of airlines. they have a duty of care to their passengers after two hours to give free food and drink to them within reasonable limits to their passengers but also if they are stranded overnight to provide hotel accommodation. those people who are in resorts in europe may be looking and thinking the best bet is to secure a room now, if you can, speak to the airline first, if not, try to arrange accommodation if you know you are not flying tonight, keep receipts and the information you need and you will be able to claim that back later if your flight is cancelled overnight. it is important _ is cancelled overnight. it is important to _ is cancelled overnight. it is important to keep - is cancelled overnight. it is important to keep an - is cancelled overnight. it is important to keep an eye on things because they change very quickly. reminders of the latest we have heard from the transport minister, there was a tweet saying that nats is working at pace to fix this and also the aviation minister and has tweeted that they are doing all they

can to support them. and that's significant because it has been a bit of criticism about government's reaction to this, the labour party's shadow transport secretary has said today this is concerning passengers and they are surprised the transport secretary mark harper had not made a statement yet, we just heard from him, we had heard from the lib dems asking rishi sunak to convene an urgent cobra meeting so there is a political dimension as well. there is but i sometimes _ political dimension as well. there is but i sometimes fear _ political dimension as well. there is but i sometimes fear in - political dimension as well. there is but i sometimes fear in the - is but i sometimes fear in the circumstances politicians all want to give their two pennies worth, for example there is no need in my opinion for a cobra meeting, to a working at pace to try to get it fixed. the time spent briefing the prime minister who ultimately cannot do anything to change the situation is not going to be helpful, you might want to have an investigation after and there will be one into what caused it. i have been told

most recently from several sources that a cyber attack is being ruled out. i sometimes feel politicians want to have a say on everything and actually for the hundreds of thousands of people sitting in airports across europe they are not in the least bit interested in what the transport secretary has to say, far more in what their airline has to say on right now, the focus needs to say on right now, the focus needs to be on fixing the problem, getting the flight plans back into that automated system and for people who are stranded, looking at getting food and accommodation sorted tonight, not what is going on in the corridors of westminster. cheer tonight, not what is going on in the corridors of westminster.— corridors of westminster. over 230 fli . hts corridors of westminster. over 230 flights have — corridors of westminster. over 230 flights have been _ corridors of westminster. over 230 flights have been cancelled, - corridors of westminster. over 230 flights have been cancelled, 896 - corridors of westminster. over 230 flights have been cancelled, 896 of| flights have been cancelled, 8% of the purchase, 271 arriving have been cancelled, about 9% of all arrivals so either way many disappointed passengers but what is your advice for any passengers who might be

trying to leave or have flights in the coming days?— trying to leave or have flights in the coming days? trying to leave or have flights in the cominu da s? , , ., the coming days? those numbers are the coming days? those numbers are the latest. the coming days? those numbers are the latest- we _ the coming days? those numbers are the latest. we will— the coming days? those numbers are the latest. we will see _ the coming days? those numbers are the latest. we will see those - the latest. we will see those proactive cancellations i mentioned from the airlines in the coming hours, those numbers will stack up later, it is now clear this is going to have an impact tomorrow. flights will be out of place in flights that would normally operate tomorrow in the morning will be disrupted inevitably by this. the advice is varying airline to airline but generally speaking, some of the biggest carriers is keep an eye on the apps which are updated as often as possible with the latest information but fundamentally it is looking like we are in a situation where if your flight is delayed indefinitely or into the small hours of tomorrow and you cannot stay—at—home if you are leaving the uk or flying stay—at—home if you are leaving the uk orflying back, look at stay—at—home if you are leaving the uk or flying back, look at trying to

make arrangements as quickly as possible for your overnight accommodation to limit the number of people and there will be hundreds to end up spending the night potentially further afield tonight because of the disruption. thank you for “oininu because of the disruption. thank you forjoining us— because of the disruption. thank you forjoining us on _ because of the disruption. thank you forjoining us on the _ because of the disruption. thank you forjoining us on the programme. - because of the disruption. thank you | forjoining us on the programme. you are looking at those live pictures from heathrow as some planes continue to take off and land but that process heavily slowed down by the technical issues which mean the flight plans have to be done manually. in spain, the prosecutor's office has reportedly opened a preliminary sex abuse probe over the scandal involving the national football federation president, luis rubiales. in the meantime, the national football federation is holding an urgent meeting in response to the controversy. luis rubiales caused outrage when he kissed the footballer, jenni hermoso, on the lips, after the national team won the women's world cup.

hermoso says she did not consent to the kiss. translation: i will not resign. on friday, and after suggestions that he would quit from his position, mr rubiales said he was not leaving. on saturday, the governing body fifa suspended mr rubiales and later that evening, 11 members of the spanish women's coaching team quit in protest. the spanish labour minister yolanda diaz met with futpro representatives, the women's soccer team players' union that representsjenni hermoso. this is what the president of the union said. translation: this is a structural

problem, this is a problem - of the organisational system of the national football in spain and we have said that in our meeting we've just held and briefly we want to put the focus on that, that this is something that female players are suffering everyday of their careers. they have to face this type of discrimination and many others. guy hedge goesjoining us guy hedge goes joining us from madrid. what more do we expect to hear on this issue? we madrid. what more do we expect to hear on this issue?— hear on this issue? we have today that new front _ hear on this issue? we have today that new front opened _ hear on this issue? we have today that new front opened today - hear on this issue? we have today that new front opened today by i hear on this issue? we have todayj that new front opened today by mr rubiales with the investigation, criminal investigation being opened to see if there is evidence to bring a case against him for sexual assault. where i am, outside of the nationalfederation, assault. where i am, outside of the national federation, football federation building, a meeting has

just started of local federation heads from around the country who are discussing this crisis in the absence of mr rubiales because he has been suspended by fifa. they are going to try and work out a way forward from this crisis. we don't know the decision they will fit but it is a feeling the people in this room behind me may well decide to distance themselves from mr rubiales and not support him the way they have been supporting or had been supporting him throughout last week. this could be a pretty key meeting when it comes to handling this crisis. there is also that criminal aspect to this whole situation as well with the prosecutor opening that preliminary investigation. thank you for that uptake. we're joined now by sports journalist gemma soler. we are hearing about this meeting, the extraordinary and urgent meeting

to discuss the suspension of luis rubiales. what are you expecting? it rubiales. what are you expecting? ht is difficult to say, because on one hand it is true that after that awful speech which ruby al said on friday evening people who were in that room making that standing ovation, a few hours later, all of them tried to put distance with luis rubiales and condemning his words and his way of acting. but at the same time, the spanish fa has a very complicated structure as a futpro representative explained earlier on and that structure is ruled by luis rubiales himself during five years, the person who has stepped in after him being disqualified by fifa, the vice president of this complete trust, he appointed him and he wanted him to be in his position in

case he was disqualified. it is difficult to say if it will really be strong against what luis rubiales has been doing for the last week or not and especially there are two big questions, what will be happening withjorge vilda, all the players have resigned and also the men's coach because they were doing the standing ovation.— standing ovation. much more untenable — standing ovation. much more untenable for _ standing ovation. much more untenable for them, - standing ovation. much more untenable for them, we - standing ovation. much more untenable for them, we havej standing ovation. much more i untenable for them, we have to standing ovation. much more - untenable for them, we have to leave it there for now but thank you for joining us. still some showers out there but not as potent as the downpours we have seen over the last couple of days.

once spells of sunshine but 0nce spells of sunshine but producing mainly light showers, they could crop up anywhere but equally some breaks in the cloud, some spells of sunshine and late in the afternoon the band of rain approaching north—west of scotland. temperatures generally 16—21, north—west of scotland. temperatures generally16—21, not north—west of scotland. temperatures generally 16—21, not feeling too bad. for most not particularly windy. tonight the band of rain pushing south—east across scotland, the odd flash of lightning, patchy rain across northern ireland getting into north—west england, head of that cloud, behind the rain band, the skies will clear out. but a lot of sunshine to start tomorrow morning across parts of scotland and northern ireland. england and wales more cloud, band of showers pushing south and ace. another band of heavy downpours pushing across the northern half of scotland. getting into central parts of scotland.

temperatures between 15 and 21. as the frontal system pushes we could see showers around and pressure building in so i think we will see showers across north and ace parts of the uk, further west something dry and brighterfor a time. temperatures about higher in some spots, 18 or 19 or 20. we can see cloud and rain gathering behind, outbreaks of heavy rain pushing southern parts of england and wales, that rain could drift into northern england and ireland for a time, sunny spells and temperatures between and 19. we head into the start of september and actually some signs high pressure into the

weekend. uncertainty about the detail in the forecast, some showers around but signs things for many others will turn drier and maybe warmer.

this is bbc news, the headlines. all major airlines announce delays as uk air traffic control systems are hit with technical issues. britain's national air traffic services apologises but says uk

airspace remains open. spain prosecutors open preliminary sex abuse probe over luis rubiales kiss. an urgent meeting of the football federation is due today and at least 60 female afghan students have been turned away from the airport despite successfully gaining a scholarship in dubai. we will have all of those stories for you in a short while. sport, now. let's to to the bbc sport centre for a full roundup. we begin with tennis. the us open is going to be under way very shortly. 0n the main court, arthur ashe, we see the defending champion eager sheer tech and novak djokovic are searching for his first title at flushing meadows since 2018.