Luggage problems hit Terminal 5


Piles of suitcases caught on camera by a baggage handler at Heathrow

Passengers at Heathrow Terminal 5 are facing disruption following problems with the baggage system. BAA has suspended luggage check-in while the issue with the sorting system is fixed.
A spokeswoman said: "We are working hard with British Airways to minimise any disruption to passengers and resume normal operations as soon as possible."
British Airways said the fault was "very close" to being fixed and no flights had been cancelled.
A BA spokesman said: "We had a mechanical problem with the baggage system which has caused a number of people to experience difficulties in checking in with baggage.
"We haven't cancelled any flights, the flights have still gone on, but it has created a backlog of passengers who have been unable to check in their baggage.
"We are in discussions with BAA who own and run the baggage system and we are very close to getting it up and running again."
But he added that he could not be sure how long the backlog would take to clear once the fault was fixed.
Previous problems
Barry Goldstone, who was due to fly to Denver with BA on Sunday afternoon, said it was "absolute chaos".
"We've received very little information. Our flight was due to be at 1545 BST, but we weren't given any information by BA as to whether there are any back-up systems," he said.
"They don't seem to have any continuity plan if anything goes wrong, and unfortunately they don't seem to have any consistency of information either."
One baggage handler, who preferred to remain anonymous, said there was more than 1,000 pieces of luggage piled up and the number was rising.
"It's absolute chaos," he said.
"BAA have told our managers that the system is up and running but we haven't seen any evidence of this ourselves or heard anything official," he added.
The terminal was hit with problems when it opened in March 2008, with flights cancelled and thousands of bags lost.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8123273.stm