Bedlam at UK Borders: Passengers are left ‘terrified of catching Covid’ while crammed into Heathrow immigration queue for more than three hours next to hundreds just landed from India
- Heathrow arrivals say they were queuing for three hours in the border hall today
- Some claim to have been left standing next to passengers from red list countries
- One journalist arriving from US said they were standing next to red list family
- It comes as UK’s international travel ban was lifted today for first time this year
Passengers flying into the UK today faced ‘bedlam’ at the borders with some facing a three hour wait – with some left standing next to Red List arrivals.
Heathrow travelers have told MailOnline how they were ‘terrified of catching Covid’ while being crammed into the airport’s border hall this morning.
Some even claim they were left standing next to arrivals from Covid-ravaged India while in the three hour long queues.
It comes as thousands of Britons today rushed to the airport to leave the country after the international travel ban was lifted this morning.
But as thousands jetting off to the likes of Portugal joined orderly queues in the departures area today, those in arrivals faced chaos at the border.
One of those stuck in the queue told MailOnline: ‘I arrived back in the country from South Africa today – one of the Red Listed countries.
‘I was more terrified catching Covid while going through boarder control than walking around South Africa.
Passengers flying into the UK today faced ‘bedlam’ at the borders with some facing a three hour wait. Pictured: One arrival sent this picture in of the queues at Heathrow today
Heathrow travelers have told MailOnline how they were ‘terrified of catching Covid’ while being crammed into the airport’s border hall this morning. Pictured: Passengers queue at the Heathrow border hall today
‘While queuing there was no social distancing we had an plane from India arrive straight after ours and we queued for over three hours and when their plane arrived it was out the door.’
New York-based journalist Steve Myall was one of those caught up in the Heathrow arrivals chaos this morning.
The reporter, who flew in from ‘amber listed’ America, documented his experience on Twitter – saying in one post how he had been forced to sit next to a family from a red list country.
He said: ‘Have arrived in Heathrow. Been told to join the one hour plus queue and also that the fast tracking of families with young children is on hold.
‘Asked to go and sit somewhere while one parent queues up we’ve been directed to sit with a family who have just arrived from a Red List country.’
He later claimed that just 10 of the 35 Border Force desks were being staffed when he went through around 6am today.
Mr Myall later said: ‘Made it through after almost two hours.’
He added that he and his family had chosen to arrive in the UK today as he had not seen family members since August and that it was the first day when households were allowed to mix.
Because he is arriving from an amber list country he will have to quarantine for at least 10 days, with two tests needed.
MailOnline has contacted the Home Office, who run the UK Border at Heathrow, for a comment.
Heathrow, who are not responsible for staffing, said in response to Mr Myall’s tweet that the delay was down to delays in checking Covid entry requirements for passengers.
‘Border Force is currently experiencing some delays as they conduct Health Measure Checks to ensure passenger compliance with the UK Government’s latest entry requirements.
‘We have raised your concern with our colleagues at Border Force whose responsibility it is to ensure that passengers within the red listed queue remain separate from other passengers.’