This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-44270666
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Lightning strike causes Stansted Airport disruption | Lightning strike causes Stansted Airport disruption |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of passengers are stranded at Stansted Airport after lightning strikes damaged aircraft fuelling systems, grounding flights. | |
| Flights have been cancelled or delayed and some are being diverted away from landing. | |
| The airport said its aircraft fuelling system was "unavailable" for a period earlier due to a lightning strike. | The airport said its aircraft fuelling system was "unavailable" for a period earlier due to a lightning strike. |
| A spokeswoman said engineers had since restored the system but "flights may be diverted, delayed or cancelled". | A spokeswoman said engineers had since restored the system but "flights may be diverted, delayed or cancelled". |
| "We apologise for the inconvenience and advise all passengers to check with their airlines for their latest flight updates," she said. | "We apologise for the inconvenience and advise all passengers to check with their airlines for their latest flight updates," she said. |
| Passengers have described being stuck on planes for hours waiting to take off while others are waiting in an already crowded departure lounge for information. | |
| The problems occurred as thunderstorms and torrential rain swept across part of the UK overnight and comes on a Bank Holiday weekend and at the start of school half-term. | |
| Passenger Steve Childs told the BBC his Ryanair flight to Madrid had been due to take off at 08:25 GMT. | Passenger Steve Childs told the BBC his Ryanair flight to Madrid had been due to take off at 08:25 GMT. |
| Mr Childs, who is travelling with his wife and daughter to see his father for during the half-term break, said he has had to get information from social media. | Mr Childs, who is travelling with his wife and daughter to see his father for during the half-term break, said he has had to get information from social media. |
| "There have been no announcements," he said. | "There have been no announcements," he said. |
| "Flights which were due to leave at 06:00 still haven't left. | "Flights which were due to leave at 06:00 still haven't left. |
| "We are in the middle of the departure hall. Fortunately we have seats, but there are lots of people without." | "We are in the middle of the departure hall. Fortunately we have seats, but there are lots of people without." |
| Rob Liddell, who was due to fly out on a family holiday to Rome for three days, said communication hadn't been great. | |
| Not hopeful | |
| He found out his flight had been cancelled via a phone app, despite the departure board saying it had only been delayed. | |
| "We're standing in a queue of several 100 people waiting to attempt to re-book our flights," he said. | |
| "No-one is hopeful anything will happen today. | |
| "There is no information about why this has happened or what the prospect of getting another flight is." | |
| Mr Liddell said people were "pretty calm" and "resigned to the fact this has happened". | |
| He added there were thousands of people in the departure lounge and "lots of young families in corridors". | |
| Frustrated passengers have been venting social media. | Frustrated passengers have been venting social media. |
| Twitter user Tracey Mitchell said her niece and nephew's flight had been cancelled as a result, meaning they are "no longer going on their cruise". | Twitter user Tracey Mitchell said her niece and nephew's flight had been cancelled as a result, meaning they are "no longer going on their cruise". |
| Have you been affected by the disruption at Stansted Airport? Share your experiences by emailing us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | |
| You can also contact us in the following ways: | |
| Or use the form below |