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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.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.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. 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. The problems occurred as thunderstorms and torrential rain swept across the UK overnight during the 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 BST.
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, 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. Rob Liddell, who was due to fly out on a family holiday to Rome for three days, said communication had not 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.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. "We're standing in a queue of several hundred people waiting to attempt to re-book our flights," he said.
"No-one is hopeful anything will happen today."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.""There is no information about why this has happened or what the prospect of getting another flight is."
'Frustrated'
Mr Liddell said people were "pretty calm" and "resigned to the fact this has happened".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".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. April Peake, from Oxford, said her Ryanair flight to Lisbon was due to take off at 09:45.
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". "It is so hot in the departures lounge," she said. "I feel like I've made it to Portugal. But I haven't."
Have you been affected by the disruption at Stansted Airport? Share your experiences by emailing us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. She said people were "bored" and frustrated".
You can also contact us in the following ways: "Flights keep disappearing from the information boards, and there are very quiet announcements listing the flight numbers of all the cancelled flights," she added.
Or use the form below "The lounge was thick with people a little while ago, but it seems to be thinning out a little bit now."
Frustrated passengers have been venting their thoughts on social media.
Twitter user Tracey Mitchell said her niece and nephew's flight had been cancelled, meaning they were "no longer going on their cruise".