FLIGHTS from Heathrow have been suspended for an hour this afternoon.
Thousands of passengers at Britain’s busiest airport have been thrown into chaos as staff grapple with a fuel system failure.
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The Jet A-1 system failed just before 2 p.m. and departures resumed about an hour later.
This meant large numbers of holidaymakers were stranded outside her gates while others were forced to wait on board.
One traveler, fed up, tweeted: “What’s wrong with your fuel delivery system?
“Sitting at the gate on the plane because we don’t get fuel. So many missed connections.”
Another said: “What’s going on with your fuel system right now? Everyone is grounded.”
While a third sarcastically posted: “When Big Big Heathrow runs out of fuel for all planes just before your flight.”
A spokesman for the airport said: “A technical malfunction in the airport’s refueling system has now been rectified.
“We are working with all airport partners to minimize disruption, however flights departing from Heathrow this afternoon may experience delays.
“We apologize for any impact this is having on people’s travel.”
Arriving flights were unaffected by the refueling issues, but passengers arriving in London faced their own disruption.
Scores of people claim they had to wait for hours to collect their bags with no “staff in sight”.
Gino Ginelli, who landed just after midday, tweeted: “Almost two hours after landing six hours late there is still no luggage in Terminal 3.
“Heathrow, like the rest of the UK, is broken and the very worst is welcome.”
Another traveler added: “QF001 landed in London two hours ago and still no one has any luggage.
“Where is it and where can your staff help? Heathrow says it’s your problem, Qantas.
“Should we settle our parking ticket with Qantas or Heathrow?”
“LIKE A DISASTER MOVIE”
And Adam Kent, arriving at Terminal 3 from Orlando, Fla., described the baggage claim scene as “a disaster movie.”
The 59-year-old, from Worcestershire, said the sight “made a terrible first impression of chaos” on international visitors.
“Lost luggage everywhere, piled up between baggage carousels, everyone is stepping over them and nobody is doing anything about it,” he added.
“To be honest it looks like a serious health and safety issue.
“No one is seen on the ground to explain the carnage or clean up the mess. It seems like a lot of luggage didn’t arrive with the passengers and was just dumped.”
Holidaymakers have already endured months of chaos due to staff shortages, sickness and strikes leading to delays and cancellations.
But Brits are grappling with another travel headache as airlines are set to announce a fresh wave of cancellations at Heathrow.
British Airways is expected to cancel most flights, but all airlines have until Friday to notify the airport which flights are no longer operating.
Government regulations are allowing a one-time “amnesty” for airport slot rules, allowing airlines to plan ahead and provide a more realistic summer schedule to minimize disruption.
They can cancel flights without being penalized but have to finalize their summer plans by July 8.
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