Airport alert: your experiences

Readers' experiences sent to the BBC of the alert and delay across UK airports.

A terrorist plot to blow up planes in mid-flight has been disrupted, claims Scotland Yard. The alert has however disrupted traffic and passengers across UK airports.

I have just arrived from Accra into London Heathrow. Like six or seven flights that have just pulled onto the gates all passengers are being kept on board. Apparently, the arrivals lounge is over-full due to extensive screening of hand baggage related to a bomb threat. I was informed by the BA hostess that baggage handlers at the airport are not yet on shift as they have been sent back to vehicles to leave any bags etc and not bring them into the airport. No sure how long I'll be sitting here. I had a 7.50am connection to Milan...but that looks unlikely.
Robin Ward, Lugano

Myself and my partner Audrey are getting married on Friday and flying to Los Angeles on Monday for our honeymoon. This is really awful news as we travel with books, DVD player and travel scrabble. However, we would rather arrive alive.
Richard Furlong, Bristol, England

This morning I'm waiting for wife and her sister to return from the UK after attending the funeral of their mother. My wife just called to inform me of what is going on there. We are all concerned that they return safely.
Douglas Peterson, Chehalis, Washington, USA

Even the barest communication is lost

My wife is travelling with two children (two-year-old and a four-month infant) and I am very concerned about their flight. There is no update of information on the BAA website about the delays and the only information I have is from the BBC website. As her mobile was taken away even the barest communication is lost.
Rao Raj, Hyderabad, India

The number of planes on the Heathrow approach is substantially down on a normal day at this time. Virtually the only planes on the approach are long haul British Airways flights. There is also a small number of British Midland 737's, which may have arrived from Europe. Presumably other International Carriers have switched their arriving flights to Europe. This must mean subsequent delays as aircraft and crews will be in the wrong place for departures later today and tomorrow. Observed from loft conversion in South Ealing.
James Guest, Ealing, London

I am travelling to New Zealand on September 14th and I was just checking the breaking news on the FCO and Heathrow Airport websites. The FCO website has no details and the Heathrow website has just crashed.
Jill Shore, Crewe

I arrived at Heathrow Terminal 1 at 6.15 this morning to find the security queue backed up to the terminal entrance. The British Airways "Fast Bag" drop queue was unusually long stretching back almost as far as the security queue. I was informed by one of the police officers that "nothing could be taken on board the plane". It became evident that my 7.15 flight would not depart on time and that there would be a knock-on effect to all flights so I decided to cancel my business day-trip. Despite the inconvenience to my day and work, I am reassured by the security measures taken.
Rasheed, London, UK

I was at the chaos masquerading as Terminal 1 this morning

I was at the chaos masquerading as Terminal 1 this morning at 6.00 - a solid mass of travellers all attempting to get their hand baggage checked-in. I decamped - anticipating the further chaos of whole planeloads of people attempting to retrieve their handbags, phones, wallets, etc. from luggage carousels around the world.
Keith Godbolt, Hartley Wintney, Hants.

I landed on a KLM plant from Eindhoven at 7.24. Air traffic control told our plane to park up and switch off engines, but would not say to the pilots what was happening. So I switched on my blackberry to this website so the KLM pilots could find out what was going on. Finally got off the plane at 8.45 at Terminal 4 - complete mayhem, even on the arrivals side, because of transfer passengers with hand luggage.
Peter Skelley, Hull, UK

I've been delayed on a flight to Gatwick, 8.45. Hope to board within the next two hours¿
Craig McEwen, Essex

My nephew and his wife are due to fly back to New York this afternoon by Virgin. Due to the chaos they are trying to reschedule. Virgin are saying as of 9.15 to turn up as normal, all flights are on time and to reschedule will cost $250.
Richard Nix, Cambridge

9.20: five minutes ago two F-15 Eagles began circling in Mid-Wales around my home, at about 2,000 ft or lower. I am used to RAF Hawks, Tornados and Harriers going straight over, but this is unusual.
Anon, Wales

I boarded a BA flight from London City Airport to Edinburgh yesterday and was not challenged for any form of identification at all. This was not a 'one off'. Several of my colleagues on the flight were also not challenged. Especially when combined with online check in, this identifies a severe breach of security. This is disgraceful, and warrants a full investigation by the CAA.
George Barnett, Suffolk & Edinburgh, UK

I doubt a single plane will take-off today

I'm just leaving Heathrow after waiting for an hour. Nobody is being checked in, not even for the 6.00. flight. We were told (by BA) that the airport will most likely be completely shut down shortly. I doubt a single plane will take-off today.
Arthur Schuetz, London

There is chaos at security in Heathrow Terminal 2. The airport isn't doing much to help - there are only three security stations open! Queued for an hour and a half through security but only twenty people have turned up for my flight so far, so long delays anticipated. No mobile phones are allowed on board so relying on pay-as-you-go internet terminals to stay in touch with the outside world!
Fergus Moroney, London, UK

All the escalators going up to the departures and check-in desks at the north terminal have been shutdown. Good health and safety measure, I think. It's very crowded up there. Lifts still work though or climbing the stairs could be considered if you want to keep fit.
Pralesh Vadgama, Redhill

I work at London City Airport and we are running with about an hour's delay on all flights (apart from Lufthansa, who have cancelled all their flights for the time being), which isn't too bad. The terminal area is pretty busy, but it has been busier. There doesn't seem to be much anger from passengers, they all seem to understand that it is going to take time and are dealing with it well. After all, everyone is in the same boat.
Mark, Orpington

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