How a Power Cut at Manchester Airport Caused Chaos for 90,000 Passengers

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Manchester Airport has resumed flight operations after a significant power cut disrupted travel plans for up to 90,000 passengers. The unexpected power outage led to a day of chaos, with flights canceled and incoming planes diverted, affecting thousands of travelers during the busy summer holiday season.

The power outage, caused by a cable fault resulting in a power surge, took down critical security systems and baggage screening operations at Terminals 1 and 2. As a result, the airport delayed all departures from both terminals for the entire morning, causing enormous lines and widespread frustration among passengers. By the time electricity was restored, the damage had been done, with more than 25% of all flights from the airport canceled.

Manchester Airport’s managing director, Chris Woodroofe, expressed his apologies for the disruption, acknowledging the impact on travelers. “When Terminal 1 and 2 can’t depart passengers for an entire morning, there is going to be an impact. And I’m really sorry that happened. We’re now making sure, as we look forward, that this impact doesn’t carry on into tomorrow,” Woodroofe said. An investigation into the cause of the power surge is set to take place in the coming week.

Passengers affected by the disruption expressed their dissatisfaction and experiences on social media, with many tweeting photos and videos of long lines and near-dark conditions within the airport. Kelvin Knaver of St Helens, Merseyside, was among the many travelers whose plans were disrupted. Knaver was supposed to fly to Amsterdam with EasyJet but found himself among the stranded passengers.

Bobbi Hadgraft, traveling to watch England at Euro 2024, described the scene at Terminal 1 as “enormous queues” and chaotic conditions, as display boards and scanners were rendered inoperative. Staff had to manually direct passengers, adding to the confusion and delays. Olwyn Hocking reported that the sheer number of people pouring into the airport left staff overwhelmed, with some appearing to try to hide from the onslaught of confused travelers.

The commotion continued beyond departures, as inbound flights were also seriously impacted. Over 100 aircraft scheduled to depart from the UK’s largest airport outside London were canceled, while several incoming flights were diverted to other airports. A flight from Houston, Texas, was diverted to London Heathrow, while another from Singapore had to land at London Gatwick.

When the primary power failed, the airport’s backup power system kicked in, but the issue was exacerbated by the frequent outages. This not only affected aircraft operations but also baggage processing, prompting airlines to only allow customers to board with cabin luggage. Both Jet2 and EasyJet confirmed that baggage handling glitches prohibited checked luggage from being loaded aboard planes.

Manchester Airport has been working to reschedule canceled flights and reunite passengers with their luggage. Officials have stated that further disruptions are not expected on Monday, as efforts continue to normalize operations. Passengers using Terminal 3 were also warned about potential delays, adding to the airport-wide impact of the power cut.

Balázs Fazekas, who arrived at 02:00 BST for a flight to Montenegro, spent eight hours in queues only to learn that his flight had been canceled. While he acknowledged there are more significant issues in life, the lack of communication from the airport was particularly frustrating. Phillip Banfield, another affected passenger, described the scene as “virtually impossible” to navigate, with check-in and security feasible only for those carrying hand luggage.

The disruption at Manchester Airport emphasizes the crucial need of dependable electrical systems and robust contingency planning, particularly during peak travel times. As the airport investigates the reason of the power spike, passengers and employees alike will be looking for measures to prevent similar situations in the future.

In today’s breaking news landscape, the incident serves as a harsh reminder of the vulnerabilities in sophisticated airport operations, as well as the far-reaching consequences of technical failures on thousands of passengers. As Manchester Airport recovers from this interruption, the priority will be to prevent similar mayhem from occurring in the future, particularly during peak travel periods.

This story was originally featured on BBC