Stansted, United Kingdom - May 11, 2025 A catastrophic IT failure plunged Stansted Airport into chaos on Sunday, leaving thousands of passengers stranded, missing flights, and stuck in hours-long queues. X user Anne Alexander shared a video and described scenes of disorder, saying, “Stansted Airport right now. IT system issue, the airport says. Some people are queuing outside just to get inside the airport terminal.” She noted that many, including herself, had flights departing in 15 minutes but were still stuck in security queues. Some travelers gave up and went home after missing their flights. “The queue to rebook a flight with Ryanair for free is so long, it took me more than two minutes to walk the full length,” she wrote. Those trying to rebook online were forced to pay for a new ticket. Passengers running to catch flights found themselves entangled in queues for refunds instead. Alexander added, “Missed my flight. Going home. Now we have to queue to get out of the airport… All. The. lols.” Despite the disruption, she praised Stansted staff for being helpful and apologetic. But even hours later, she remained in a queue. The IT crash began around 2:30 a.m., just hours before the first flights. An estimated 10,000 holidaymakers were affected. Jet2 and Tui delayed flights to accommodate passengers, but Ryanair chose to depart on time. Travelers described chaotic scenes with disorganized queues, overcrowding, and only a few staff shouting out flight names. One traveler, Ben Silverstone, said he spent over an hour in an unmoving queue and ultimately left the airport. He rebooked a later flight from Gatwick, saying, “It’s cost us a fortune… we’re about £600 out of pocket.” Another, Mark Wright, described “absolute chaos” at 3 a.m., pushing through crowds to reach the Jet2 bag drop. He later boarded his flight but remained stuck on the tarmac for over two hours, unsure if his family’s luggage made it aboard. By 10:30 a.m., Stansted Airport said the issue was resolved, though delays persisted. A spokesperson apologized for the disruption and urged passengers to check with airlines for updates.