Extraordinary circumstances explained

Airlines often give this reason for refusing compensation. The term is narrower than many airlines suggest, and the airline has to prove it.

Checked against official sources on 16 October 2026

What the law says

Under UK261, an airline “shall not be obliged to pay compensation” if it can prove the delay or cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances “which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken”. The law does not define the term, so it has been shaped by court decisions and by guidance from the CAA.

Two things have to be true for the airline to escape paying: the event itself was extraordinary, and the airline could not have avoided the delay by reasonable measures, such as having a spare aircraft or crew available.

What usually counts

The CAA lists these as the kinds of events likely to count:

• Weather that makes it unsafe to fly
• Strikes not connected to the airline, such as by airport staff, ground handlers, air traffic control or border staff
• Acts of terrorism or sabotage
• Security risks
• Political or civil unrest
• Hidden manufacturing defects, such as a manufacturer’s recall that grounds a fleet

Your Europe also lists air traffic management decisions as an example for EU flights.

What usually does not count

• Technical faults. The CAA says ordinary technical problems are not extraordinary. It points to the English Court of Appeal in Jet2.com v Huzar (2014) and the European Court of Justice in van der Lans v KLM (2015). The exceptions are hidden manufacturing defects and damage caused by sabotage or terrorism.
• Strikes by the airline’s own staff. Your Europe lists these as not extraordinary.

If the airline says “extraordinary circumstances”

The CAA says you can still claim if you are unsure, and that an airline relying on extraordinary circumstances should clearly set out why. You can:

• Ask for the specific cause in writing, and what the airline did to try to avoid the delay.
• Check whether other flights from the same airport at the same time left on time. If they did, weather or air traffic control may not explain your delay.
• Take the complaint to an approved dispute resolution body, which is free. See how to claim.

If our checker says your claim looks unlikely, it offers a free letter that asks the airline to set out the cause and its evidence.

Care is owed whatever the cause

Extraordinary circumstances only affect compensation. The airline must still give you food, drink and a hotel while you wait, and offer a refund or a new flight if your flight is cancelled. See your rights during a delay.