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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Computer glitch causes UK airport delays | Computer glitch causes UK airport delays |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Passengers are experiencing disruption at a number of UK airports after an IT glitch affecting arrival halls. | Passengers are experiencing disruption at a number of UK airports after an IT glitch affecting arrival halls. |
| Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Birmingham are among the airports which have seen lengthy queues forming after a fault on UK Border Force computers. | Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Birmingham are among the airports which have seen lengthy queues forming after a fault on UK Border Force computers. |
| A spokesperson said security remained a "priority" but extra staff have been called in to try and to reduce the delays. | |
| The delays are said to be having a particular impact on non-EU passengers. | The delays are said to be having a particular impact on non-EU passengers. |
| The BBC's Sarah Falkland said ports were affected as well as airports and queues of up to 90 minutes appeared to be forming at Heathrow. | |
| She said the problem was affecting both self-service e-Passport gates - which operate by running a facial recognition check against a traveller's passport - and manned customs desks. | |
| As a result, staff are being forced staff to input passport details manually rather than simply scanning documents. | |
| At Gatwick, Chris Hyland, from Islington in north London, said international passengers had been told to expect a wait of up to four hours. | At Gatwick, Chris Hyland, from Islington in north London, said international passengers had been told to expect a wait of up to four hours. |
| "The international queue is pretty huge, so people have already started sitting down because they know they will be there for a long, long time," he said. | "The international queue is pretty huge, so people have already started sitting down because they know they will be there for a long, long time," he said. |
| The Border Force spokesperson said: "We are currently experiencing temporary IT problems which may add to the time taken to conduct passport checks. | The Border Force spokesperson said: "We are currently experiencing temporary IT problems which may add to the time taken to conduct passport checks. |
| "We are working to rectify this issue and are providing extra staff to get passengers through the controls as quickly as possible. Our priority remains security of the border." | "We are working to rectify this issue and are providing extra staff to get passengers through the controls as quickly as possible. Our priority remains security of the border." |
| No departure issues | No departure issues |
| A spokesman for Heathrow Airport said: "There are some longer queues than normal in the terminals, but we have spoken to border force and they are putting on extra staff. | A spokesman for Heathrow Airport said: "There are some longer queues than normal in the terminals, but we have spoken to border force and they are putting on extra staff. |
| "Obviously we want to sort the issue out but not risk the integrity of the border controls." | "Obviously we want to sort the issue out but not risk the integrity of the border controls." |
| Meanwhile, a Birmingham Airport spokesman said: "We are aware [of the glitch] and the impact it is having at the moment. | Meanwhile, a Birmingham Airport spokesman said: "We are aware [of the glitch] and the impact it is having at the moment. |
| "It appears to be getting progressively worse but we are hoping it will be sorted out soon." | "It appears to be getting progressively worse but we are hoping it will be sorted out soon." |
| A Gatwick spokesman said there should not be any delays to flights leaving UK airports. | A Gatwick spokesman said there should not be any delays to flights leaving UK airports. |
| Manchester Airport said queues had gone down after some passengers experienced a small delay. | Manchester Airport said queues had gone down after some passengers experienced a small delay. |
| Are you at a UK airport or do you know someone who has been affected by the delays? Do you have any information you would be willing to share with the BBC? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Are you at a UK airport or do you know someone who has been affected by the delays? Do you have any information you would be willing to share with the BBC? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |