Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg/Getty Images
A UK Arrivals sign at London Stansted Airport on Friday 26th May 2023.
CNN –
A nationwide problem with the border system has disrupted electronic gates at UK airports, causing chaos for holidaymakers and passengers arriving in the country.
Images on social media showed long queues forming at major airports, many wanting to travel ahead of a Monday bank holiday and schools were also on semester break.
The bug means travelers will have to have their passports checked manually instead of automatically.
“We are aware of an issue with the nationwide border system affecting arrivals in the UK,” a Home Office spokesman said in a statement to CNN on Saturday.
“We are working to resolve the issue as soon as possible and are working with port operators and airlines to minimize disruption to travellers,” the spokesman added.
A spokesman for London Heathrow Airport said: “We are aware of a nationwide issue affecting eGates operated by Border Force.
“This issue affects a number of ports of entry and does not affect Heathrow. Our teams are working closely with Border Force to resolve the issue as quickly as possible and we have additional colleagues to manage queues and ensure passenger welfare.
Lucy Morton of the Immigration Services Union told BBC Radio 4 that 60-80% of travelers pass through electronic gates, depending on the airport.
“There is no national security impact, on the contrary, it will improve national security because every single incoming passenger will be seen by a human and not a machine,” she said.
“But there will be queues, and that in turn creates a number of problems of its own. People get frustrated and take it out on the staff. The staff is verbally abused, occasionally the staff is physically abused and beaten. All of this will play out throughout the day.”