Power cut halts all flights from two Manchester Airport terminals

Video recorded by a traveler reveals individuals stuck in a poorly lit area of the airport in Manchester.

All flights departing from the two main terminals at Manchester Airport have been canceled due to a "major power outage" that has led to extensive disruption.

Travelers using Terminals 1 and 2 have been advised to avoid the area following a power failure that occurred in the early morning hours, causing disruptions to baggage and security operations.

A representative from the airport stated that all flights from those terminals have been stopped indefinitely.

Big lines have formed inside of the airport, which is the biggest in the UK outside of London. More than 10 flights leaving the airport have been cancelled, and flights coming in have been rerouted.

Travelers had to stand in line - and wait - outside Terminal 1.

Travelers using Terminal 3 should arrive at the airport at their scheduled time, however there may be delays, according to a spokesperson for the airport.

Travelers who are already at the airport will be given priority on flights as the airline works to clear the backlog, according to a spokesperson.

The amount of flights being canceled on the airport's departure board is forecasted to increase until at least the middle of the afternoon.

The airport informed the BBC that incoming flights were redirected because there was not enough space for planes to depart.

This created a challenge in receiving aircraft, which would then be redirected to another location, stated the spokesperson.

The airport advised passengers to get in touch with their airlines.

The airport's emergency power backup turned on when the main system failed, but there were additional challenges as the main power kept disconnecting repeatedly.

Airlines have reported issues with baggage processing, which resulted in customers being limited to bringing only a cabin bag on board.

Jet2 explained that the baggage handlers were unable to load luggage onto the airplanes because of the technical issue.

In the meantime, a spokesperson from Easyjet stated that passengers were only allowed to bring a small bag on board their flight due to issues with the luggage handling system.

The chaos began as the summer vacation period kicked off at the UK's third most crowded airport. The airport has issued an apology to the affected travelers.

A spokesperson at the airport reported that the power outage caused all systems to shut down completely.

It also impacted other companies in the vicinity, such as prominent transport companies in the area.

Bobbi Hadgraft, who is on a trip to see England play at Euro 2024, shared with BBC Radio Manchester that she got to the airport around 4:00 AM BST and saw "huge lines" outside Terminal 1.

"We were afraid we might not make it to our flight," she explained, noting that the power failure had disrupted the information screens and scanners, forcing employees to guide travelers through the airport manually.

Olwyn Hocking noted that a staff member appeared to be attempting to conceal themselves as a large number of individuals entered the airport, completely unaware that there was an issue.

She described it as complete disorder.

Flights leaving from Terminal 1 and 2 have been impacted by the power outage.

Balázs Fazeka arrived at the airport at 2:00 in the morning, ready to go on a week-long vacation with his wife and eight-month-old baby to Montenegro. After waiting in lines for eight hours, he was informed that the flight had been canceled.

"He mentioned that there are more important things in life," he remarked, however he expressed his frustration over the airport's lack of communication.

One more traveler, Phillip Banfield, shared that his flight had departed while he was stuck at passport control.

He mentioned that there were a lot of passengers around him, stuck and unsure of how they would be able to continue their travels.

He said that it was very difficult to pass through check-in and security, and it was only possible if you were only traveling with carry-on luggage.

Customers have expressed frustration with the disorganization in the check-in zones.

The internet is buzzing with people expressing their frustrations about the long lines at check-in counters and passport control, along with the disorganized and confusing situation caused by a lack of communication from the airport staff.

Images and videos revealed large lines of individuals, with some waiting in low light conditions.

The airport experienced a power outage around 01:30, but has since regained electricity. However, it will take some time to fully restore and activate all systems.

Further investigation by Aleks Phillips

Did the blackout at Manchester airport impact you in any way?