When Airport IT Systems Crash: Thousands Stranded in “Pandemonium” Queues Overnight
Passengers waiting in queues overnight after an airport IT system crash triggered chaos at UK airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, and Manchester. Learn more about the turmoil and frustration faced by stranded travelers.
Passengers’ Nightmare: The Border Control System Meltdown
Passengers encountered hours-long queues and confusion as Border Control e-gates malfunctioned at major UK airports, leading to a nationwide “major incident.”
Stranded Without Relief: Families Endure Nightmarish Ordeal
Families found themselves stranded without food or water, forced to spend the night at arrivals due to the IT system failure that brought manual passport checks and endless waits.
Holiday Delays: Chaos Grips Passport Control
Holidaymaker Sam Morter narrated the chaotic scene at Heathrow Terminal 3, with Border Force officials scrambling to handle the sudden influx of passengers stuck in passport control queues.
Nationwide Outage: The Root of the Problem
The glitch was traced back to the £372million Border Crossing security database, causing a system-wide crash that affected airports across the country, leaving passengers frustrated and exhausted.
Passenger Accounts: A Glimpse Into the Chaos
Passengers like Paul Curievici and Sam Morter shared their experiences of long waits and system failures, highlighting the inefficiencies and challenges faced during the IT system breakdown.
Resolution: Finally Fixing the Flawed System
The Home Office confirmed the resolution of the glitch at 2.10 am, ruling out a cyber-attack as the cause and restoring normal operations after hours of disruptions.