London Stansted Airport fire: Passengers face travel chaos as flights delayed

Passengers have been forced to endure brutal delays after London Stansted was evacuated due to a fire this morning.

Departures at the airport, where Jet2, Ryanair and TUI Airways operate frequent flights, were suspended while staff and emergency services responded to the small blaze at around 3.30am in the departure area's Escape Lounge.

A spokesperson for the airportconfirmed the fire was now under control and the departure area had reopened at around 6am. However, passengers are still facing delays due to a passenger backlog, and many have taken to social media to share their ordeals.

One passenger shared an image of a jam-packed check-in area as flyers awaited instructions for their travel plans. The Twitter user wrote: "What's happening at London Stansted ffs?"

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Another shared images of a number of fire engines at the major aviation hub in Essex. Seeking to inform fellow passengers, the user wrote: "Fire at stanstedairport - departures evacuated, expect huge delays. Fire was in the Escape lounge. Pax will have to evacuate to landside, all requiring rescreening at security again."

A third passenger tagged her airline, Ryanair, as she wrote: "I'm tweeting you to let you know I have arrived at stansted for my 6.30 flight to Madrid however I am locked out of airport cos of the fire so pls pls pls let me travel there today queens."

Another wrote: "Stansted Airport is a mess right now."

One passenger caught up in the delays tweeted: "I’m sure I can speak for the hundreds of passengers currently corned into one side of the departures hall.

"No communication around why we have been rounded up, we have been removed from our meals, no updates given and only heard about a fire from ‘ear wigging’."

London Stansted issued a statement on social media at 6.30am to announce the airport had reopened and that passengers were able to get through security. However, they warned that waiting times had increased.

“Following the fire in our Escape Lounge earlier this morning, the departure lounge is now open and passengers are being processed through security, though waiting times may be longer than usual in the circumstances", the statement said.

“Flights were not suspended and both departures and arrivals are operating. Some flights may be subject to delays and passengers are advised to check with their airlines.

“We thank all the passengers for their patience as we ensured the terminal was safe for them to re-enter.”