Britons stuck in power cut delays

Thousands of Britons endured a day of travel chaos on Friday, after flights were cancelled or diverted as a result of a massive power cut in North America.

On Friday afternoon, more than 2,000 passengers stranded at New York's JFK Airport were still waiting to be re-routed on alternative services.

Up to 50m people were left without power after the blackout on Thursday afternoon affected large parts of the North Eastern US and Canada.

As of Friday evening, Heathrow Airport was still badly affected with six outbound British Airways flights cancelled, three diverted to other airports and one delayed by 24 hours.

Re-routed

Two inbound BA services were also cancelled, with another delayed for a day.

Elsewhere Virgin Atlantic had cancelled one flight.

The disruption on Thursday meant that seven BA flights from JFK Airport were grounded, together with two from Toronto.

One Virgin Atlantic plane en route from London to New York had to turn back three hours into the flight. Other US-bound flights were re-routed.

A British Airways spokeswoman said it was still attempting to re-route the 2,000 passengers stuck at JFK Airport.

"We have not got exact numbers for how many are still waiting but we are trying to get passengers dispersed to other services," she said.

The problems at Heathrow on Friday affected the schedules of British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, United Airlines, American Airlines and Air Canada, although some flights were getting through.

BA have advised passengers to check in as normal, or call ahead if they know their flight has been cancelled.

The pilot came on the tannoy and said, 'I'm sure you are wondering why we are taking a left turn in the middle of the Atlantic' Passenger Arthur D'Arcy Heading home in a NY blackout

At Gatwick, two inbound and two outbound Air Transat and US Airways flights were heavily delayed, with three unlikely to fly until Saturday.

The North Terminal scheduled transatlantic departures and arrivals were unaffected.

Glasgow and Edinburgh airports have also suffered delays, and one cancellation from Toronto.

Flights to and from Manchester have been delayed by up to 16 hours, while one Toronto-bound flight due to leave on Friday morning was cancelled.

US officials have found no evidence to support fears that terrorism was responsible for the power cut.

Exhausted passengers from Virgin Atlantic flight VS017 arrived back in the UK at 0200BST on Friday, after an aborted attempt to reach New York, and were taken to a hotel overnight.

Businessman Arthur D'Arcy, 45, originally from Surrey but now living in New Jersey, said Virgin had treated passengers well.

UK 'at risk from power blackouts'

He said: "About three hours in the pilot came on the tannoy and said, 'I'm sure you are wondering why we are taking a left turn in the middle of the Atlantic'.

"He then told us it was a power failure in the US and because we were before the halfway point we would have to go back."

But Becky Jones, 27, from Swansea, said the situation was "ridiculous".

"All just because there was a power cut," she said. "You can't tell me that the whole of the US and Canada can't even sort out their national grid.

"We were basically sitting on the plane the whole way back worrying that there has been some terrorist attack or a plane has flown into a building."

No complaints

Amateur photographer Danny Axworthy, 21, from Knutsford, Cheshire, said: "Virgin were pretty good about it all. It's not their fault. They have been as helpful as they can.

"You've got to blame the authorities in the US, but that's America for you."

BA has asked passengers to check the status of flights before heading for the airport, by calling 0870 8509850, or via their website.

Virgin Atlantic can be contacted on 01293 454101.