A power surge at London Stansted Airport in Essex on Sunday, October 25, 2026, caused operational disruptions that delayed around 250 flights and led to the cancellation of six flights, according to data from Flightradar24 cited by Sky News. The surge affected key airport systems, including security screening and baggage handling, temporarily suspending these services.
Passenger Delays and Terminal Congestion
The outage forced passengers to endure lengthy queues and wait times as security checks and baggage processes were offline. The disruption created congestion inside the airport terminal, with some travelers reporting delays lasting several hours. Airline schedules were also impacted, as delayed departures led to
complications in subsequent aircraft rotations.
Restoration of Services and Airport Response
Stansted Airport confirmed the power surge caused the interruption and apologized to passengers affected by the delays and cancellations. Airport officials reported all affected systems were restored by Sunday evening, October 25. Teams continued to assist passengers and airlines while operations recovered from the outage.
Context of Weather and Railway Disruptions
The power surge occurred during a weekend already disrupted by severe weather linked to Storm Boelo, which brought strong winds and heavy rain to parts of the United Kingdom. Additionally, fallen trees damaged overhead railway electrical cables near Stansted Mountfitchet on Friday and Saturday, causing cancellations on Stansted Express rail
services. While the airport attributed the terminal failure to a power surge affecting the local area, no direct link was established with the earlier railway infrastructure damage.
Passengers traveling on Monday, October 26, have been advised to verify their flight statuses individually. Those affected by cancellations may be eligible for reimbursement or alternative transport under UK passenger rights regulations and should retain receipts for any related expenses.
