‘Absolute shame’ as pregnant girl faints in UK airport safety queue chaos
Travellers faced long security queues at Birmingham Airport on Friday morning during the May bank holiday and school half-term
Queues were branded a ‘disgrace’ (Image: Birmingham Live/@walshcat1)
A pregnant woman reportedly collapsed while waiting in a queue for an hour at a UK airport. Holidaymakers attempting to get away for the May bank holiday and school half-term faced lengthy security delays at Birmingham Airport.
The airport issued an apology and explained that waiting times were longer than normal owing to an “unexpectedly high level of staff absence because of sickness” on Friday morning. This resulted in fewer security screening lanes being operational, which subsequently led to a bottleneck.
Some travellers ended up missing their flights as a consequence, with the airport liaising with airlines and affected passengers to resolve the situation, Birmingham Live reports.
The airport stated that during busy periods queues were maintained at under an hour, and that it was “taking immediate steps to address” the issue.
Images from within the crowded departure terminal revealed dozens of exasperated passengers trapped in queues. One traveller posted on X: “Total chaos in Birmingham Airport. The poor staff not sure what to do. We’re in express lane and not moved for 20 minutes.” He continued: “On flight eight minutes before take-off. Others have missed it.”
Another commented: “Getting through the airport this morning was an absolute disgrace. Eight security machines, only three open and tens of thousands of people queuing. First and last time flying from this shambles of an airport.
“You should be embarrassed and ashamed.” A third traveller posted on X: “It’s not like a bank holiday weekend or the start of half term is an unscheduled event. Nonetheless, the absolute shambles @bhx_official. This morning is nothing less than inexcusable.
“Staff nowhere to be seen once in the queue, (btw this was the Express Lane). Flagrant abuse of assisted lane with sunflower lanyards, multiple large family groups trailing through behind one child sporting the lanyard.
“Meanwhile, a pregnant lady in front of me waiting her turn faints due to heat and having been stood for over an hour. #notgoodenough”
The airport acknowledged the problem stemmed from staff illness and reported that the typical waiting time was 21 minutes.
A Birmingham Airport spokesperson told Birmingham Live: “This morning, passengers experienced longer than usual wait times at security due to an unexpectedly high level of staff absence, which meant we were unable to open the full number of screening lanes required. We recognise the impact this had on some passengers and apologise for the inconvenience caused.”
