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Luggage problems hit Terminal 5 Luggage problems hit Terminal 5
(30 minutes later)
Passengers at Heathrow Terminal 5 are facing disruption following problems with the baggage system.Passengers at Heathrow Terminal 5 are facing disruption following problems with the baggage system.
BAA has suspended luggage check-in while the issue with the sorting system is fixed. Airport operator BAA suspended check-in, but it was later reopened after the problem was identified and resolved.
A spokeswoman said: "We are working hard with British Airways to minimise any disruption to passengers and resume normal operations as soon as possible." A spokeswoman said they were working with British Airways "to help passengers to continue their journeys".
British Airways said the fault was "very close" to being fixed and no flights had been cancelled. One baggage handler, who preferred to remain anonymous, said there were more than 1,000 pieces of luggage piled up and the number was rising.
A BA spokesman said: "We had a mechanical problem with the baggage system which has caused a number of people to experience difficulties in checking in with baggage. The BAA spokeswoman added: "We hope that passengers wishing to depart tonight will be able to do so and we are sorry for the obvious inconvenience to travellers and British Airways."
"We haven't cancelled any flights, the flights have still gone on, but it has created a backlog of passengers who have been unable to check in their baggage. A BA spokesman said: "As a result of the problem some passengers have been unable to check in bags. Check-in has now reopened but there will be some delays.
"We are in discussions with BAA who own and run the baggage system and we are very close to getting it up and running again." "We apologise to our customers for the inconvenience. We are doing everything we can to minimise disruption."
But he added that he could not be sure how long the backlog would take to clear once the fault was fixed. Earlier, he said he could not be sure how long the backlog would take to clear once the fault was fixed.
Previous problemsPrevious problems
Barry Goldstone, who was due to fly to Denver with BA on Sunday afternoon, said it was "absolute chaos".Barry Goldstone, who was due to fly to Denver with BA on Sunday afternoon, said it was "absolute chaos".
"We've received very little information. Our flight was due to be at 1545 BST, but we weren't given any information by BA as to whether there are any back-up systems," he said."We've received very little information. Our flight was due to be at 1545 BST, but we weren't given any information by BA as to whether there are any back-up systems," he said.
"They don't seem to have any continuity plan if anything goes wrong, and unfortunately they don't seem to have any consistency of information either.""They don't seem to have any continuity plan if anything goes wrong, and unfortunately they don't seem to have any consistency of information either."
One baggage handler, who preferred to remain anonymous, said there was more than 1,000 pieces of luggage piled up and the number was rising. Mick, from Dublin, Ireland, told the BBC: "I waited in the queue to check in bags for the full three hours prior to my flight leaving.
"It's absolute chaos," he said. "The queue moved maybe two people in that time. I was told that BA would not send on the luggage if I took my flight so I had to miss it.
"BAA have told our managers that the system is up and running but we haven't seen any evidence of this ourselves or heard anything official," he added. "There were couples going on their honeymoon crying and younger girls crying too."
The baggage handler added: "It's absolute chaos."
"BAA have told our managers that the system is up and running but we haven't seen any evidence of this ourselves or heard anything official."
The terminal was hit with problems when it opened in March 2008, with flights cancelled and thousands of bags lost.The terminal was hit with problems when it opened in March 2008, with flights cancelled and thousands of bags lost.
Are you at Heathrow Terminal 5? Do you know someone who has been held up at the airport? Let us know what is happening near you.Are you at Heathrow Terminal 5? Do you know someone who has been held up at the airport? Let us know what is happening near you.
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