Outage Disrupts Immigration Process at Major U.K. Airports
Immigration checkpoints at U.K.’s leading airports, including Heathrow, Manchester, Gatwick, and Belfast International Airport, experienced major delays on Tuesday evening. The Border Force, responsible for maintaining the nation’s borders, reported a nationwide computer outage causing these disruptions.
Border Force Faces Technological Hurdles
The Border Force announced that they were grappling with a nationwide issue impacting the processing of passengers through the border. The exact number of airports affected remains unclear. It was revealed that the problem stemmed from the Border Force’s “eGates,” which are responsible for processing arriving passengers.
Passengers Endure Long Delays
Images circulating on social media depicted crowded, static lines in front of immigration checkpoints at Heathrow Airport. However, officials from Gatwick and Manchester airports assured that there were no flight delays or cancellations due to the outage.
Investigations Into Outage Underway
Details regarding the commencement of the outage or its specific cause remain unknown. The U.K.’s Home Office, which oversees the Border Force, has not immediately responded to inquiries about the incident. Airports are working closely with Border Force officials to aid passengers experiencing delays.
As international travel continues to recover post-pandemic, this technological disruption serves as a stark reminder of the vital role technology plays in maintaining efficient border controls. It underscores the need for robust, reliable systems to handle increasing passenger volumes and prevent such occurrences in the future.
