5 days ago
UK travel chaos as Heathrow airport hit with 'technical fault' causing 'severe' delays
Passengers at Heathrow Airport have been impacted by a 'technical fault' that's causing 'severe' delays.
A statement released by the airport this morning on social media explained there was an issue causing a key route to Terminals 2 and 3 to be closed.
It read: 'Due to a technical issue, the Central Terminal Area tunnel to Terminals 2 and 3 is currently closed.
'Please use public transport to Terminal 5, where train services are available to all other terminals.
'We're working hard to resolve the issue and apologise for the disruption.'
Some travellers have shared photos online of the chaos unfolding, with one image showing passengers running up the road with their luggage to cut the building traffic.
One penned on X: 'People running with their luggage in the roads. Shameful.'
Another added: 'People running dragging cases on the motorway now. Find a solution!'
A statement released by the airport this morning on social media explained there was an issue causing a key route to Terminals 2 and 3 to be closed
MailOnline has approached Heathrow Airport for comment.
National Highways has also shared that the M4 Heathrow Spur entrance into the two terminals is closed and was causing 'severe delays' on the road.
They posted to X: The #M4 Heathrow Spur (at J4) into T2 and T3 is being CLOSED.
'For access to #HeathrowAirport please use the #M25 J14 and head towards T5.
'There are already severe delays on the spur road. Please allow extra time if heading to the airport this morning.'
Images of traffic filling the motorway were shared alongside the post showing long queues.
It comes after an area of Heathrow Terminal 3 was cleared on July 25 while a fire alarm was investigated, which passengers said had caused huge waits for passport control.
The alert just after 11am led to the temporary evacuation being carried out by staff for safety reasons, which some travellers complained had led to two-hour queues.
National Highways has also shared that the M4 Heathrow Spur entrance into the two terminals is closed and was causing 'severe delays' on the road
Christina Warren, who had just arrived on a Virgin Atlantic flight, tweeted: 'Landed at Heathrow an hour early but there was a fire alarm so the line for passport control is literally backed up literally the entire terminal because of a fire alarm going off.'
Natalie Berg, another passenger waiting at Heathrow after arriving from the US, added: 'Nearly two hours and line has barely moved at Heathrow. Just been told immigration and baggage reclaim has now reopened so hopefully on the move soon.'
And a further traveller wrote: 'Fire crews investigating incident in baggage hall at Heathrow T3 mean security border is currently closed. Very long queue already.'
A Heathrow spokeswoman previously told MailOnline: ' Following an earlier fire alarm evacuation in parts of Terminal 3, the incident has now been stood down. We apologise for any disruption caused to journeys.'
Passengers were later allowed into the baggage reclaim hall to collect their bags and get on their way.
The airport recently pledged to cut waiting times at airport security, too.
Heathrow promised that 95 per cent of passengers will pass through security in under five minutes by 2031.
The airport is also planning to redesign its terminals to improve the passenger experience by creating 70,000 sqm more space for travellers, reports The Times.
The airport recently pledged to cut waiting times at airport security, too. Heathrow promised that 95 per cent of passengers will pass through security in under five minutes by 2031
Terminals 3 and 5 are also set to get more shops and restaurants while the airport has pledged that 99 per cent of bags will arrive in time due to new technology.
The airport said the technology would mean that 1.25 million fewer bags ended up lost.
Heathrow's new plans will
While earlier this month, it unveiled its designs for a third runway.
