UK airport chaos updates — Border Force system down as Heathrow & Gatwick e-gates crash causing 'mother of all queues' | The Sun

PASSENGERS are facing hour long delays across the UK at major airports after a nationwide Border Force system crash.

An error in the crucial system has sparked chaos throughout border control machines – leaving three hour waits at Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton and Stansted.

The eGate malfunctions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton first began experiencing problems on Friday night.

A spokesperson for the Home Office said: "We are working to resolve the issue as soon as possible and are liaising with port operators and airlines to minimise disruption for travellers.”

One woman who landed into Heathrow this morning at around 6.am wrote: “Returning from Dubai overnight to this mother of queues."

Read our UK airport chaos live blog below for the latest updates…

  • By Louis Allwood

    What are eGates?

    Holidaymakers arriving into the UK may be able to use eGates to speed up their journey.

    There are over 270 eGates in place at 15 air and rail ports in the UK to enable quicker travel.

    Those travelling with ID cards cannot use the eGates.

  • By Louis Allwood

    Queues expected to build 'very, very quickly'

    Lucy Morton, from the Immigration Services Union, has warned holidaymakers that queues are expected to build "very, very quickly".

    Speaking to BBC's Radio 4, she said: "You end up putting all the passengers through physically-manned officer desks.

    "Staff can't take the breaks that they should be taking … the whole thing will snowball very quickly."

  • By Louis Allwood

    Brits warned about heading away for half term

    Brits heading abroad this half term face long queues and busy airports due to strikes and system failures.

    Not only are both airport and airline staff walking out, but this weekend is expected to be the busiest for Brits since 2019.

    The Spanish Airline Pilots Union (SEPLA) are walking out on a number of days up to June 2, with Air Europa cancelling 114 flights.

    The strikes are taking place from May 26-29 and June 1-2.

    EasyJet has also cancelled 384 flights to and from Portugal due to a cabin crew strike taking place on May 26, 28, 30 and June 1 and 3.

    The UK Foreign Office has updated its guidance due to other strikes across Portugal.

  • By Louis Allwood

    Long queues at Heathrow this morning

    Some travellers have taken to social media to posts snaking queues following the eGates going down.

    One holidaymaker described the situation as "horrendous".

  • By Louis Allwood

    What airports have been affected by the Border Force system issues?

    The e-gate malfunctions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton first began experiencing problems on Friday night.

    A Home Office spokesperson has confirmed that this is a "nationwide issue" and it is affecting arrivals into the UK.

  • By Louis Allwood

    British Airways chaos

    Half-term plans were thrown into disarray after British Airways cancelled at least 175 flights due to the impact of an IT failure.

    Around 20,000 passengers have been affected by the cancellations.

    There were also widespread delays to other flights, and some passengers were unable to check in online.

    Most of the affected flights were on short-haul routes to and from Heathrow Airport.

    In a message on its website, British Airways told customers: "We're aware of a technical issue, which we have been working hard to fix."

  • By Louis Allwood

    Travel chaos was sparked yesterday with hundreds of drivers stuck in Port of Dover

    Bank holiday and half-term travel chaos started yesterday as hundreds of drivers were stuck in queues at Port of Dover.

    Thousands of motorists were on the roads for the long weekend with traffic building throughout yesterday morning.

  • By Louis Allwood

    Pictured: Passengers caught in 'hour long' queues

    An error in the crucial system has sparked chaos throughout border control machines – leaving three hour waits at Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton and Stansted.

  • By Louis Allwood

    Passengers caught in 'mother of queues'

    One woman who landed into Heathrow this morning at around 6.am wrote: "Returning from Dubai overnight to this mother of queues.

    "Apparently national outage in border control machines so manual passport checks.

    "My plane landed at 6am, there is still a sea of people in front of me, passport checks are being done manually."

  • By Louis Allwood

    Heathrow 'aware of nationwide issue'

    Heathrow has claimed their teams are working closely with Border Force to help "resolve the problem as quickly as possible".

  • By Louis Allwood

    Passengers have been left furious

    One traveller arriving into Gatwick posted on social media: "Three hour delay.

    "Flown to Gatwick instead of Heathrow with no warning and now @Gatwick_Airport can’t process anything."

    Another fed-up passenger added: "Total chaos at Gatwick Passport control.

    "Queues of over an hour due to computer gates all unserviceable. Whoever is responsible needs to be fired."

  • By Louis Allwood

    Issues at eGates started on Friday evening

    The e-gate malfunctions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton first began experiencing problems on Friday night.

    A spokesperson for the Home Office said: "We are aware of a nationwide border system issue affecting arrivals into the UK.

    “We are working to resolve the issue as soon as possible and are liaising with port operators and airlines to minimise disruption for travellers.”

  • By Louis Allwood

    Holiday chaos as travellers face HOURS of delays

    Holidaymakers are facing hour long delays at major UK airports after a nationwide Border Force system crash.

    An error in the crucial system has sparked chaos throughout border control machines – leaving three hour waits at Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton and Stansted.

    Passengers are having to stand in lengthy queues as staff are forced to carryout manual passport checks.

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