Passengers were seen in tears at Manchester Airport after missing their flights due to long queues through security.
Hundreds of travellers were caught up in the chaos at the airport on Friday, with one passenger describing it as an "absolute catastrophe."
People claimed they faced delays of more than three hours to pass through security checkpoints with many complaining that the airport was understaffed, the Manchester Evening News reports.
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Manchester Airport said the longest security queue was just over an hour and a half - and have now apologised to travellers affected 'for any inconvenience'.
A spokesperson said the airport faced a higher number of passengers than expected, and a higher-than-usual rate of staff absence on the day.
One passenger, who missed his flight to Kraków due to the long queues, reported seeing people "pushing" and "mini stampedes".
Fiona Slater said she had already struggled with train cancellations and delays on her way to the airport from Huddersfield when she arrived in Manchester last night.
She arrived at the airport just before 8.45pm on Friday for a 10pm flight to Dublin, which was the last of the day.
On arrival, Fiona said she was faced with huge queues through security.
Fiona said: “I have travelled quite a bit during covid and it’s never been an issue.
“I got talking to a man who had already missed his first flight, had to go back out to buy another ticket for another flight and was having to go through security again.
“There was zero information coming through from staff. They kept saying on the tannoy that for anyone on the Emirates flight to Dubai, it was being held back. But there were zero messages about Ryanair. We just assumed they would do the same for our flight.
“I got through security at 10.15pm and just before my boyfriend messaged to say he could see my flight had taken off.
“Nobody could give me any information, they just said they didn’t know."
Fiona and some other passengers tried to stay airside so they wouldn’t have to pass through security again but were eventually ushered away by police and placed on a bus that took them landside.
She and several other passengers bought tickets for the first flights to Dublin at 8am this morning and waited in the airport overnight.
She said: "I paid an extra £200 for another flight, not everyone can afford to do that.
“And there was no accommodation offered.
“I asked how long it would take to get through security in the morning and was told it opened again at 3am and I could go through then.”
Manchester Airport said removing people from airside to landside, known as decontrolling, is 'normal procedure' as the departures hall is a secure airside space and after the last flight has departed it is closed off to keep it secure.
Daniel Glynn, from Macclesfield, also missed his flight to Kraków from Manchester Airport due to the long queues.
He arrived at the airport at 6pm for a 7.45pm flight and was met with long queues to even reach the security gate at Terminal 1.
Daniel said: “The queues ran all the way through the concourse with three queues into one.
“It was 40 minutes before I actually entered security.
“As it went on people realised they were going to miss their flights.
“There was quite a lot of pushing. There were calls for passengers to go through for late flights and those caused mini stampedes.
“There was no information from staff about what was going on or how long it would take.
“I saw people pass out - two older people and a boy.
“Of course the advice with Omicron is to keep distanced, but people were just stagnant in that area.
“When I asked I was told there were 75 sicknesses due to covid.”
Manchester Airport said medical assistance is always available on site and passengers who missed flights can contact the airport with details to assist.
They added: “Wherever possible, we will always try to prioritise those booked on flights that are imminently departing and when doing so ask for the understanding and cooperation of all passengers.”
Daniel got through security at 10pm, having missed his flight, and went home.
“They couldn’t run the airport properly,” he says. “It wasn’t really the staff’s fault.
“But I can’t see it being any different today.”
People took to Twitter to vent their frustrations at the situation at the airport including long queues and missed flights.
@rory_masta said: “@manairport absolute catastrophe tonight.
“Took 3 hours to get through security (which had 2 lanes open) to then find out flight left. No communication or apology.
“People were passing out and pushing forwards. Could’ve ended very differently”
Ciara Davies tweeted: "3hr queue for security resulting in a missed flight + two very scared and upset children.
"Absolute carnage at T1 tonight. Disgraceful @manairport @Ryanair"
An Manchester Airport spokesman said: “Yesterday evening, we experienced longer queues than we would like in Terminal One. This is due to a higher number of passengers than expected, and a higher-than-usual rate of staff absence on the day.
“Customer service staff worked hard to assist passengers during the evening, and we diverted resource from Terminal Two to support. Wherever possible, travellers were prioritised within the queue, but we are aware some people missed flights and, along with their airlines, we have been working to support their onward travels as best we can.
“Due to additional pre-departures checks, as countries update guidance for travel, passengers should arrive at a minimum of three hours before their scheduled flight time if they have to check in and drop bags.
"They can arrive two hours before if travelling just with hand luggage. Passengers should also familiarise themselves with security rules, especially if they haven’t travelled for some time.
“We apologise to all affected for any inconvenience caused.”
