Fire in Stansted Airport Departure Lounge Disrupts Passenger and Flight Operations

A fire that broke out in the departure lounge at Stansted Airport north of London on Wednesday morning caused travel chaos; it led to the cancellation and delay of several flights and disrupted the arrival of thousands of passengers via trains.

The fire broke out around 3:30 AM, resulting in a large amount of smoke. Although the airport management reported that the fire was "extinguished quickly," the subsequent repercussions lasted for hours.

As a precautionary measure, passengers were evacuated from the area and were prohibited from entering the security screening area, which was closed for three hours before reopening at 6 AM.

The chaos extended to access to the airport, as a signal failure caused by the fire led to the cancellation of train services to Stansted Airport, disrupting the arrival of large numbers of passengers. The British newspaper "Metro" reported on its website that "Departures from Stansted Airport in London are facing delays after a fire broke out in one of the departure lounges, causing a signal failure and chaos for passengers heading to the airport by train."

In the latest update issued at 9:45 AM, Stansted Airport reported: "After the fire that broke out earlier this morning in the departure lounge, passengers are taking longer than usual to cross the airport."

The airport management later announced that rail services to the airport "are operating as normal (in the afternoon)," but noted that "there may be some delays in flights."

The management concluded by advising travelers: "We advise passengers to check the status of their flights with airlines and to allow extra time for their journeys if necessary. We thank all our passengers for their patience and understanding. We also thank our colleagues for their hard work and dedication this morning."