Worldwide airline passengers arriving at Heathrow Airport close to London and at different airports in Britain have been dealing with lengthy traces at immigration checkpoints on Tuesday night after the nation’s Border Drive reported a nationwide laptop outage, officers stated.
“Border Drive is at present experiencing a nationwide difficulty which is impacting passengers being processed by way of the border,” Heathrow, the nation’s largest airport, stated on social media at 9:15 p.m.
The issue was additionally affecting Manchester Airport, Gatwick Airport close to London and Belfast Worldwide Airport in Northern Eire. The general variety of affected airports wasn’t clear.
Officers stated that the issue originated with the Border Drive’s “eGates,” immigration checkpoints that course of arriving passengers by way of the border.
Officers at Gatwick and Manchester Airports stated that there have been no flight delays or cancellations associated to the outage, however stated that they have been working with Border Drive officers to help passengers experiencing delays at immigration.
It was unclear when the outage started or what particularly prompted it. An inquiry emailed to the U.Ok.’s Residence Workplace, which administers the Border Drive, was not instantly returned Tuesday.
Pictures on social media confirmed crammed, stagnant traces in entrance of a row of gates beneath indicators that learn “UK Border” at Heathrow Airport.