Huge delays at Heathrow Airport as baggage system breaks down
![Heathrow Airport. Picture: PA](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/legacy_elm_78120288.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65&enable=upscale)
![Heathrow Airport. Picture: PA](/img/placeholder.png)
The problem, which began at around 8am today, meant the airline had to check in items of luggage manually, which takes longer than the usual automatic procedure.
Terminal 5 was the worst affected, with queues lasting several hours, although the fault also occurred at Terminal 3 and Gatwick Airport.
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Hide AdComedian Eddie Izzard, who was was among the passengers caught up in the disruption, posted on Twitter: "Luggage belts down at Heathrow Terminal 5. I hope BA can get this moving soon as passengers have been waiting a long time now."
Cancer nurse Mary Tanay wrote that the chaos caused her to miss her flight and she will be "spending a few hours of my holiday at T5" waiting for the next one.
She added: "What a truly stressful morning for all - staff and passengers alike."
Another passenger, Emily, posted on Twitter that there were lots of staff looking at bags but "no one taking them to planes".
A BA spokesman said: "We are working hard to minimise disruption after a baggage system issue has slowed down customers dropping off their bags.
"We apologise for the inconvenience to our customers."