More than 100 easyJet passengers were left stranded at Milan’s Linate Airport after their flight to Manchester took off without them — despite many arriving hours early. What unfolded inside the airport has now become one of the most widely shared travel chaos stories, with passengers describing extreme queues, people fainting in the heat, and hundreds of pounds in unexpected costs.
The flight, scheduled to depart on Sunday, carried just a fraction of its passengers. Out of around 156 booked travelers, only about 30 to 34 managed to board. The remaining 100+ passengers were stuck at passport control, unable to reach the gate in time due to massive delays linked to new European border checks.
For many, the situation quickly turned from frustrating to distressing. Travelers reported waiting up to three hours in tightly packed queues, with little movement and limited support. Some said people were vomiting and nearly passing out in the heat as the line barely moved forward.
Passengers stuck in queues while flight departed
One of the most frustrating aspects for those affected was that they had done everything right. Several passengers said they arrived at the airport as early as 7:30am for an 11am flight, only to find themselves trapped in a slow-moving border control system.
By the time some reached the front, airport staff informed them their flight had already departed. For many, this came as a shock — especially after hours of waiting in line with no clear updates.
Teenager Kiera, who was travelling back to the UK, said she ended up facing a 20-hour delay and had to sleep on the airport floor. Her family paid around £520 for replacement flights, but these were rerouted to London Gatwick instead of Manchester, adding further travel complications.
Another passenger, Adam Lomas, travelling with his wife and four-month-old baby, described the situation as chaotic. He said passengers struggled to get help, faced issues contacting the airline, and were forced to find hotels or alternative routes themselves. Some even reportedly travelled to other cities like Pisa to try and catch flights home.
The financial impact has also been significant. One family said they had to pay more than £1,600 for new flights via Luxembourg after being marked as “no-shows.” Others reported additional costs for hotels, taxis, and train tickets just to get back to Manchester.
Despite these expenses, some passengers claimed compensation offers were extremely low. One traveler said they were offered just £12 — not enough to cover even basic food at the airport.
New EU border system behind the chaos
The disruption has been linked to the rollout of the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES), which officially became operational this month. The system replaces manual passport stamping with biometric checks, requiring travelers to provide fingerprints and photographs at the border.
While designed to modernize and tighten border security, the system appears to be causing major delays during its early implementation. In Milan, passengers reported that not all machines were being used and that processing times were significantly slower than expected.
According to guidance published on Gov.uk, travelers entering the Schengen area may need to allow extra time for border checks, as each passenger must complete registration individually. However, the scale of delays seen in Milan suggests airports may not yet be fully prepared to handle peak demand under the new system.
easyJet acknowledged the situation, stating that longer-than-usual passport control queues were “outside of its control.” The airline said it delayed the flight for nearly an hour to allow more passengers to board but ultimately had to depart due to crew working hour limits.
Passengers who missed the flight were offered free transfers to alternative flights, but for many, that did little to ease the immediate disruption. With limited availability, some were forced to wait until the next day or even longer, often with rerouted journeys through London instead of Manchester.
The incident has sparked frustration not just with the airline, but also with airport authorities. Passengers reported confusion and a lack of coordination, with some saying staff appeared to be arguing over who was responsible for the delays.
Images and videos shared online show huge crowds packed into passport control areas, highlighting the scale of the disruption. The situation has raised concerns that similar scenes could play out at other European airports as the new system continues to roll out.
For travelers, the Milan chaos is a clear warning. Arriving early may no longer guarantee a smooth journey, especially as new border procedures add extra processing time. For airlines and airports, it underscores the urgent need to adapt quickly — because as this incident shows, even a single bottleneck can leave hundreds stranded.
With peak travel season approaching, all eyes will now be on how airports across Europe handle the transition. If improvements are not made, Milan may not be the last time passengers find themselves watching their flight leave without them.
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