Passengers across UK airports experienced significant disruptions due to a nationwide failure of Border Force e-gates. The issue began unfolding on 7th May 2024, leading to extended queues and reported fainting incidents at airports such as Stansted. The Home Office acknowledged the malfunction and worked towards resolving the technical difficulties.

Airports like Heathrow and Gatwick saw long lines as the e-gates, essential for expedited entry processing using facial recognition technology, ceased functioning. This forced airport staff to manually check passports, further slowing the process and contributing to the chaos observed by passengers and described on social media.

The situation was compounded by a recent four-day strike by Border Force workers at Heathrow, protesting against new roster plans potentially leading to job losses. Despite the operational chaos, the Home Office assured that border security remained uncompromised.

As of the latest update on 8th May 2024, the e-gates were restored and operational again. The Home Office and affected airports continued efforts to smooth out the flow of passengers and prevent future occurrences. The incident highlights challenges in travel infrastructure and the impact of technical failures on travel efficiency.