A fire broke out in the Escape Lounge, part of the main departures area, at 3.30am. No one was hurt, and the airport says the fire was \u201cquickly extinguished by the Airport Fire Service.\u201d<\/p>\n
But the quantity of smoke led to the area near the Escape Lounge being evacuated, with no further passengers allowed through.<\/p>\n
Stansted airport<\/a> said: \u201cPassengers have now been moved to the terminal forecourt and security remains temporarily closed.\u201d<\/p>\n Passengers were obliged to remain outside the terminal building for around two hours, during which time many thousands of travellers would normally have been cleared through security.<\/p>\n At 6.30am the airport posted: \u201cThe departure lounge is now open and passengers are being processed through security, though waiting times may be longer than usual in the circumstances.<\/p>\n \u201cFlights were not suspended and both departures and arrivals are operating. Some flights may be subject to delays and passengers are advised to check with their airlines.\u201d<\/p>\n A spokesperson for Stansted airport said: \u201cWe thank all passengers for their patience as we ensured the terminal was safe for them to re-enter.\u201d<\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Essex hub: Stansted airport is the main base for Ryanair (Simon Calder)<\/p>\n Stansted is Ryanair<\/a>\u2019s main base, and The Independent understands that some \u201cearly wave\u201d flights departed empty in order to protect the schedule for later in the day. Three Ryanair<\/a> flights due to depart at 5.55am \u2013 to Tenerife, Rhodes and Marrakech \u2013 are shown as having taken off soon after 6am, even though the terminal was still closed at the time.<\/p>\n Other passengers say on social media that flights were not held. On X (formerly Twitter), a passenger named Dani wrote<\/a>: \u201cAbsolute chaos at Stansted airport thousands missed their flights (including us).\u201d<\/p>\n The Independent has asked Ryanair to comment.<\/p>\n Jet2<\/a>, the second-largest operator at the airport, cancelled three flights to Greek islands: to Heraklion, Santorini and Lesbos.<\/p>\n The airline told passengers: \u201cDue to the earlier fire within London Stansted Airport today, we have been left with no alternative but to cancel.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Essex](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/StanstedFromAir.jpeg\")
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