Major UK airport warns of flight delays and cancellations as IT difficulty causes journey chaos
An IT meltdown has caused a number of flights to be cancelled or delayed at a major UK airport this morning.
Stanstead Airport was ‘utter carnage’ after their IT system reported ‘issues’ at 6am bringing operations to a standstill.
Holidaymakers were forced to queue for hours after the wave of disruption caused issues for passengers progressing through check-in, baggage and security.
Although airport authorities say the issue has been resolved delays are still affecting passengers.
Anne Alexander, who has been stuck at Stanstead since 6.30am told MailOnline that over 150 people are queuing to leave the airport having missed their flights.
Ms Alexander, 53, was meant to be jet-setting to Palermo, Italy.
She said: ‘My flight was at 8.35 and so I got here at 6.30 and when I got into the terminal it was absolutely crowded and it was like the Walking Dead and when I looked outside I saw people queuing.
‘I thought I would be okay but it was so slow to even get to security I was in the queue for security 10 minutes before my flight was meant to go.
An IT meltdown has caused a number of flights to be cancelled or delayed at a major UK airport this morning
Anne Alexander, who has been stuck at Stanstead since 6.30am told MailOnline that over 150 people are queuing to leave the airport having missed their flights
‘I got through five minutes before my flight was due to leave, I got to my gate and it was already gone.
‘I got there two before and I missed my flight so I’m not sure who got my flight.
‘There’s only one flight per day from RyanAir to Palermo, I was sent to a gate to rebook my flight for free and it was a massive queue the queue to book.
‘I’m not prepared to wait it took me two minutes to walk the length of it. But you can only book for free if you wait in the queue.
‘Now I’m queuing to leave the airport. People are pushing, it’s doing my head in.
‘There’s at least 150 people waiting to just leave the airport and the queues getting longer and I’m seeing faces form the first queue.
‘We didn’t have a lot of information early on at the start it was chaos and people didn’t know what was going on but the staff have been really great.’
Holidaymakers were forced to queue for hours after the wave of disruption caused issues for passengers progressing through check-in, baggage and security (file image)
Stranded passengers claimed that the power outage meant airport staff were forced to communicate by shouting over hundreds of people
Stranded passengers claimed that the power outage meant airport staff were forced to communicate by shouting over hundreds of people.
One passenger wrote on X: ‘Some people are queuing outside just to get inside the airport terminal. Some have given up and gone home as they have missed their flights.’
Stanstead airport released a statement explaining that the issue has now been resolved.
They said: ‘Our teams are working hard to fully restore operations following the IT issue that impacted our systems earlier this morning.
‘While the issue has been resolved, some flights may still be subject to delays.
‘We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and advise passengers to check the status of their flights with their airlines before travelling to the airport.’
However, passengers have been left stranded at the airport while others gave up on their holiday and headed home.
Pictures from the airport show massive queues within the terminal and outside it.
RyanAir has been contacted for comment.
