EasyJet Passengers Vomit and Faint in 3-Hour Milan Airport Border Queue Chaos
Approximately one hundred easyJet passengers were left stranded and physically distressed after facing up to three-hour queues at Milan's Linate airport on Sunday, April 12, due to newly implemented European Union border control procedures. The situation escalated as numerous travellers reported experiencing nausea and fainting spells amid oppressive heat conditions, creating a scene of pandemonium at the international terminal.
Passenger Ordeal and Flight Disruption
Passengers described a "nightmare" scenario where they arrived at the airport with ample time, only to encounter massive queues that snaked through the facility. The disruption occurred as the UK Government updated travel advice for the European Schengen zone, requiring biometric registration upon arrival through the EU Entry and Exit System (EES), which replaces manual passport stamping. Despite easyJet holding the Manchester-bound flight for nearly an additional hour, the aircraft ultimately departed due to crew duty time restrictions, leaving about 100 travellers behind.
Emily Benn, from Grimsby, was among a group of six travelling on the 11am service. She recounted arriving at 8am for their flight, only to find enormous queues for three separate flights. "The new EES wasn't working, so we all had to be checked by two people on passport control," she explained. By 11:20am, they were informed the flight had left without them, forcing them to rebook to Gatwick and incur a £400 taxi bill to return to Manchester where their car was parked.
Health Impacts and Airline Response
Beyond travel delays, the health impacts were severe, with passengers vomiting and passing out in the sweltering conditions. Social media posts captured the chaos, with one traveller writing, "We queued for three hours and all the time the flight info remained at 'boarding' we were then told the delayed flight had left." An easyJet spokesperson acknowledged the situation, stating they held the flight to provide extra time but had to depart due to safety regulations. The airline offered free flight transfers to affected customers and urged border authorities to utilize flexibilities during EES implementation to prevent such delays.
The spokesperson emphasized that while the circumstances were outside their control, they apologized for any inconvenience caused. This incident highlights the challenges of transitioning to new border systems and the significant disruptions faced by travellers, with passengers now facing additional costs and extended journeys home.
