Holiday chaos as travellers face HOURS of delays at major UK airports after Border Force system crashes
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.
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.”
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.”
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.”
A spokesperson for Gatwick airport said: “Some passengers may experience delays at immigration due to a nationwide issue with UK Border Force e-gates.
“Our staff are working with UK Border Force – who operate passport control including the e-gates – to provide assistance to passengers where necessary.”