Power cut at Stansted Airport causes ‘security queues of up to two hours’

Passengers have been left queuing for hours at Stansted Airport after a power surge took several systems offline.

Travellers reported delays at security and immigration at London’s third-busiest hub, to and from which rail services were severely disrupted this weekend after Storm Boelo wreaked havoc on the UK’s infrastructure.

One social media user took to X to share a picture of hundreds of passengers queuing at security, adding that an announcement had been made in the terminal that staff were working to get systems up and running again.

Another passenger shared a photo of a packed arrivals corridor as people were left queuing on escalators for passport control.

A spokesperson for Stansted Airport said: ‘Due to an earlier power surge that has affected the airport and local area, a number of airport systems were temporarily impacted.

‘While most systems are now back in operation, some remain affected and not operating to full capacity, including security and baggage systems”

‘Teams are working hard to restore all services and support passengers on their journeys through the airport.’

The latest wave of disruption comes as Greater Anglia was forced to cancel dozens of Stansted Express trains after fallen trees blocked the line from the airport to London.

On Friday, travellers were left without water for hours after a fault with Stansted’s internal passenger transit train, which connects the main terminal with a satellite pier.

Passengers were left waiting for replacement shuttle buses as engineers worked to fix the automated transit, which is due to be decommissioned next year.

The disruption comes as back-to-back Storms Austen and Boelo left thousands of homes without power, as heavy rain and wind battered much of the country.

The severe weather saw London’s Diwali celebrations, due to take place today in Trafalgar Square, cancelled over safety concerns.

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