Engineers are trying to fix the problem
Some flights have been hit by delays following a power failure at Manchester Airport this evening, it has emerged.
Airport bosses initially said the power failure in Terminal 3 had not affected flights although it had caused delays at passport control as computer terminals went down.
Now they say as the issue has evolved they have realised some services have been affected, although it is reported supplies are slowly returning to normal.
A fleet of buses is now being drafted in to move people from T3 – where immigration officials were using laptops to check passengers’ documents – so they can go through passport control in Terminal 1.
Earlier this evening lights went off inside the T3 building and computer terminals at immigration control shut down. It led to hundreds of queuing passengers ‘being shoehorned into corridors’ as officials struggle to process their entry into the UK. The lights came on again thanks to back-up generators.
Tonight a spokesman for Manchester Airport confirmed there were some delays but they stressed it only affected a small number of flights.
He said lights had initially gone out but had returned thanks to back-up generators, albeit the lighting was dimmer than normal. He confirmed the power issue meant computer terminals at immigration control had gone down.
One passenger in the queue told the Manchester Evening News there had been a ‘power cut’ and that ‘hundreds (are) shoehorned into corridors before passport control’.
They went on that ‘nothing (is) moving’.
Passengers reported delays on social media. Replying to a Manchester Airport post, one traveller wrote: “We are being held with no details on delays or possible cancellations.”
Another wrote: “I think flights are affected though as the first officer and crew came out of the plane to tell us we’re delayed as we’re waiting for someone from the power company to come.”
Another said: “Flights are very much affected.” Another wrote: “We’re sat on a plane with no fuel and have been told incoming flights are diverted. Definitely affected.”
“Delayed over an hour sitting onboard, air conditioning turned off, waiting for fuel,” said another flyer. Another stated: “We too are sat on plane… fastened to a jetty that cannot be released without power.”
They were responding to a statement from Manchester Airport from its X account, stating: “We’re aware of a technical issue affecting some systems in Terminal 3 this evening. Flights are not affected. We are working to fix this issue as soon as possible and apologise for any inconvenience. Our customer service and resilience teams are on hand to assist passengers.”
A spokesman for the airport said a further bulletin would be issued shortly. He admitted the incident had seen processes across the airport ‘slow down’ and cause some delays. He also said a fleet of buses was being brought in so people could be moved to passport control in T1, which is in the same building as T3.
People due to travel should come to the airport as normal, he said, adding that engineers were on site and attempting to fix the problem.
Shortly before 11pm a spokesperson said power supplies were returning to normal, although it is currently unclear when services will return to normal.
