Stansted Airport Fire Causes Evacuation and Major Travel Disruption
A stansted airport fire in the early hours of September 24 forced the evacuation of passengers from the terminal, sparking chaos across flights and transport links. The blaze, which broke out in the Escape Lounge, was quickly brought under control, but the incident left lasting disruption.
Fire at Stansted Airport: What Happened
According to officials, alarms were triggered around 3:30 am when smoke was detected inside the Escape Lounge. The stansted fire was swiftly extinguished by the Airport Fire Service, and no injuries were reported. However, safety measures required clearing parts of the terminal, leaving many passengers waiting outside in the cold.
Key details:
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Location: Escape Lounge, Stansted Airport
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Time: Around 3:30 am
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Casualties: None reported
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Impact: Evacuation and flight delays
Stansted Departures Affected by Delays
The evacuation forced the closure of the security checkpoint, suspending stansted airport departures temporarily. By 6:30 am, the departure lounge reopened, but long queues and delays persisted. Airlines including Ryanair re-accommodated affected passengers at no extra cost.
Table: Impact on Flights
| Status | Details |
|---|---|
| Departures | Delayed and some cancellations |
| Airlines | Ryanair, Jet2 among affected |
| Passenger Response | Complaints over poor communication |
Stansted Express Halted Amid Travel Chaos
Travel woes deepened as a signaling failure caused the suspension of the Stansted Express and CrossCountry train services. Passengers were advised to take replacement buses, adding to the already significant delays caused by the fire at stansted airport.
Passenger Reactions and Next Steps
Frustrated travelers described the response as “a disgrace,” with many missing flights due to poor communication. Airport officials defended the measures, stressing that passenger safety remained the priority. Investigations are now underway to establish the cause of the incident and to prevent future disruption at stansted airport.
