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Bristol Airport fire causes serious power failure Bristol Airport fire causes serious power failure
(about 3 hours later)
About 2,000 people at Bristol Airport were left stranded after a small fire caused a serious power failure. About 2,000 people were left stranded at Bristol Airport after a small fire caused a serious power failure.
Flights were grounded with some passengers saying the terminal was in darkness when they arrived earlier. Flights were grounded and some passengers said the terminal was in darkness when they arrived.
The back-up generators failed after the fire at 03:00 BST, with the airport reporting "significant disruption and delays" at its busiest time of day.The back-up generators failed after the fire at 03:00 BST, with the airport reporting "significant disruption and delays" at its busiest time of day.
Airport chief executive Robert Sinclair said he hoped the operation systems would be back to normal by mid-morning. The airport said power had been restored, but warned of continuing disruption.
"No flights have been cancelled to date, but departures are likely to be subject to delays throughout the rest of the day", a spokesman said.
"There could also be knock-on effects on arrivals as a result of aircraft and crew being out of position.
"A full inquiry will be carried out to ensure measures can be taken to avoid any repeat of this situation in future."
The fire happened in a distribution panel and the failure of the airport's back-up generator led to a complete loss of power in the terminal, said officials.
'Slow progress''Slow progress'
One of the ongoing issues is the failure of the airport's baggage belt system, meaning luggage has to be processed manually. One of the ongoing problems is the failure of the airport's baggage belt system, meaning luggage has to be processed manually.
"Three flights have departed unfortunately without bags - bags will follow as soon as possible," said spokesman James Gore."Three flights have departed unfortunately without bags - bags will follow as soon as possible," said spokesman James Gore.
"A number of other flights are boarding having had the bags dropped and loaded manually."A number of other flights are boarding having had the bags dropped and loaded manually.
"We are trying to process as much as we can manually but it is much slower progress than it normally would be." "We are trying to process as much as we can manually, but it is much slower progress than it normally would be."
Paul Raymond, who is flying to Spain, said he arrived at 03:10 BST and heard the power had gone off shortly before. Paul Raymond, who was flying to Spain, said he arrived at 03:10 BST and heard the power had gone off shortly before.
"For a short time they were telling people just to leave the terminal building," he said."For a short time they were telling people just to leave the terminal building," he said.
"There was nothing - no computers, no security - nothing is operating at all.""There was nothing - no computers, no security - nothing is operating at all."
The fire happened in a distribution panel, officials said, and the failure of the airport's back-up generator led to a complete loss of power in the terminal. Ashley Bull from Oxfordshire said he was currently stuck in Ibiza.
Three hours later the power was partially restored. "We were due to land back in Bristol at 11.50 this morning from Ibiza.
A major operation is currently in place to clear the backlog of flights which had been grounded. "We are currently delayed twice by three hours, but there is still no sign of a Ryanair aircraft at the airport.
Airport chief executive Robert Sinclair said it was a "fluid situation" but he hoped the system would be fully back to normal within two to three hours. "We have been told that we are going to travel at 13:30," he said.
"Clearly I'd like to apologise to all of our passengers that have been caught up in this disruption," he said. Passenger Alistair Barclay from Taunton in Somerset was due to fly to Faro, but arrived at 04:30 BST to find he was one of the thousands left stranded.
Passenger Alistair Barclay, from Taunton in Somerset, was due to fly to Faro but arrived at 04:30 BST to find he was one of the thousands left stranded.
"It is just one of those things," he said."It is just one of those things," he said.
"No-one's fault. A fire in the basement apparently so you've got to go with the flow.""No-one's fault. A fire in the basement apparently so you've got to go with the flow."
Were you affected by the power failure? Do you have any information you would like to share? Please send us your comments and photos. You can email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Bristol Airport'.Were you affected by the power failure? Do you have any information you would like to share? Please send us your comments and photos. You can email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Bristol Airport'.
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