{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreifujxdlkgwg34i4ocyqey7wtoydsspftiwqscqat4odkrztina55u",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:b7afdzqsmwksxypciqnplglk/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjngzxyvdv42"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreiedf56qs7tkrtjyzzzxktqtqdxuvl4ucb6vemzozx4m2el3ky7oja"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/jpeg",
    "size": 116764
  },
  "path": "/2026/04/16/london-stansted-chaos-leaves-passengers-stranded-two-hour-queues-28004411/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-16T21:37:51.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "Lifestyle",
    "Travel",
    "Flights",
    "London",
    "Stansted Airport",
    "Travel News",
    "Stansted",
    "Essex",
    "Dublin",
    "Frankfurt",
    "Copenhagen",
    "Denmark",
    "Waymo's robotaxis are now driving themselves around London",
    "Tourist creates world's first pickpocket map after a trip to London",
    "Londoners brace for Tube strikes next week on every Underground route",
    "London news hub",
    "Turkey",
    "were called off",
    "Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source"
  ],
  "textContent": "Queues of more than two hours built at Stansted Airport on Thursday night (Picture: Metro)\n\nPassengers at London Stansted face a night of chaos after queues of more than two hours at security, Metro can reveal.\n\nHundreds of travellers look set to miss flights on Thursday night after arriving at the Essex Airport queues of more than an hour backed up to the entrance of the security area.\n\nNo announcements have been made by the airport and as of 10.15pm, just two of the 11 security scanners were open while furious passengers watched on.\n\nPeople on the scene have been told there is a lack of staff.\n\nA passenger who was due to travel on the 10pm flight to Dublin told **Metro** :’There’s a total lack of staff. There are women with babies in buggies and prams who don’t know if they’re going to have to sleep in the airport tonight.’\n\n‘People are here in the queue having to watch FlightRadar to see if their flight has taken off, it’s just a total lack of communication.’\n\nStansted Airport did not respond to requests for comment.\n\nPeople on the scene described a ‘total lack of communication’ (Picture: Metro)\n\nPassengers on the 9.55pm flight to Frankfurt Hahn, the 10pm to Dublin and the 10.05pm to Copenhagen were all affected.\n\nOne man was in tears and said he was going to miss a wedding in Denmark tomorrow.\n\nOne passenger paid for fast track and went to that section, only to find the queue had been closed.\n\nTourists are now stranded in London and have been left with no choice but to book last-minute accommodation.\n\nA ground worker was heard telling passengers: ‘We are just as furious as you are.’\n\n##  Latest London news\n\n  * Waymo's robotaxis are now driving themselves around London\n  * Tourist creates world's first pickpocket map after a trip to London\n  * Londoners brace for Tube strikes next week on every Underground route\n\n\n\n_**To get the latest news from the capital, visit Metro's**  London news hub._\n\nComment nowHave you been affected? Email alice.murphy.met@metro.co.ukComment Now\n\nThe last flight from Stansted was due to depart for Izmir, in Turkey at 10.30pm. It is unclear how many passengers were able to board.\n\nEarlier on Thursday, strikes by ABM workers at Stansted were called off to allow workers to vote on an improved pay offer.\n\nOver 100 Unite members who look after passengers with disabilities at the airport were due to walk out from tomorrow until Monday 20 April in a dispute over pay.\n\nHowever, following negotiations between Unite, the employer and conciliatory service Acas this has now been postponed after a new offer was put forward.\n\nUnite regional officer Steve Edwards said: ‘After a new offer has been put forward to members, we have decided to stop strike action to allow them to have their say.’\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Chaos at London Stansted: passengers stranded after two-hour security queues"
}