Baggage chaos at Heathrow as furious passengers are forced to wait up to five hours for their luggage - with some told to go home without their bags

By SHANNON MCGUIGAN, NEWS REPORTER Published: 08:16, 16 May 2026 | Updated: 08:29, 16 May 2026 Passengers have been left furious after some were forced to wait up to five hours for their luggage and others were told to head home without their bags.  Baggage chaos erupted in Heathrow airport yesterday as hundreds of bags transported by British Airways were abandoned in terminal five. Pictures of the travel chaos have emerged online showing droves of luggage abandoned across the terminal.   It is understood Heathrow Airport is responsible for outbound baggage, while individual airlines hold responsibility for inbound luggage.  One passenger aired their fury on X, writing: 'British Airways really disappointing with arriving back to T5 and total chaos at baggage arrivals.  'Families waiting hours and told to go home as baggage abandoned all over airport.' Another branded the situation an 'absolute joke', writing: 'Flight landed at 10:35 was delayed from getting of the plane for 30 minutes.  'To then arrive at baggage reclaim waited 3 hours and two belt changes to be then told all the staff have gone home and you can’t get your baggage.' Others claimed passengers were instructed to leave the airport without their luggage and told to file a lost baggage report.  Meanwhile, luggage chaos also ensued for those travelling out of Heathrow amid technical issue which saw some flights leave without baggage onboard. A traveller claimed to have seen their luggage 'sitting on the ramp beside' their aircraft in terminal five, with the plane departing 'without it being loaded'. They added: 'We informed cabin crew but nothing was done. Traveling with 7 checked bags and an infant.'  A mother voiced her fury that her daughter's 21st birthday celebrations in Dublin had been ruined by the fiasco.  'British Airways my daughter flew from Heathrow yesterday to Dublin arrived to find no cases and been out on the flight,' she said.  'No idea when they will receive them or if they even will. There for her birthday weekend for 21st birthday and absolutely ruined.' British Airways and Heathrow Airport have been approached for comment.  Baggage chaos erupted in Heathrow airport yesterday as hundreds of bags transported by British Airways were abandoned in Terminal five. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.