An IT crash at a major airport sparked mass delays with an estimated 10,000 holidaymakers missing their flights due to long queues for baggage and security.
Stansted airport was affected by an “IT issue” early on Sunday morning that rendered many of the systems useless. Most of the security lanes were out of action, and baggage systems were not working. While the cause is still being investigated, it is believed it could be related to internet access for some systems.
Jet2 and Tui had been delaying flights by three to four hours to wait for passengers to clear security, but Ryanair has been dispatching planes on time in order to avoid delays later in the day.
Ben Silverstone, 37, arrived at Stansted with his partner at 5am for a 6.45am Ryanair flight to Madrid. He told The Independent: “There was a massive queue to get into the airport terminal, which didn’t move for about an hour.”
They were unable to drop off their bags and eventually left the airport, rebooking for a later flight from Gatwick on easyJet.
“It’s cost us a fortune,” Mr Silverstone said. “We’re about £600 out of pocket”.
Stansted airport posted on X (formerly Twitter) early in the morning: “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 the inconvenience this may cause”
A few hours later, A spokesperson for London Stansted said: “All systems have now been fully restored and no flights have been cancelled as a result of the IT issue”.
Mark Wright, 34, said holidaymakers were pushing and shoving to get a chance to board his 5.55am Jet2 flight to Majorca.
He told The Independent from the tarmac: “We arrived at the airport at 3am into absolute chaos. We were barely able to get through the main door.
“There were no organised queues, there was only one barrier with three airport staff shouting out flights and only letting certain people through.
“I had to push through to the front to find out if our flight was called then work my way back through the crowds to find my partner with the bags and push back through just to get to the Jet2 bag drop off.
“There were people sleeping on the floor or just sat in the middle of the crowds making it nearly impossible.
“At the bag drop off the only reason we got through is because we noticed the self-check in came back online and we jumped out to use them. The Jet 2 team asked us to keep it quiet that they’d all came back on.”
Mr Wright managed to board his flight but has been stuck on the tarmac for over two hours after being told his family’s luggage might not be onboard.
He added: “The only positive is the pilot has kept us informed and has found creative ways to keep the children entertained by showing them the cockpit.
Bravo to him, he seems to be the one doing something proactive.”
Anne Alexander, posted on X that she queued for security for nearly two hours but still missed her flight.
She said: “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.
“Many passengers in the queue – including me – have flights leaving in the next 15 mins.
“And we are still in the security queue.”
