PASSENGERS have been stranded at airports after the UK's air traffic control system broke down and the freak heatwave grounded flights.
Travellers already battling delays and cancellations sparked by the weather faced more misery when the malfunction hit Swanwick Air Traffic Control centre.
Flights were axed at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton after thunderstorms before today's technical hitch.
Passengers at Heathrow and Gatwick were warned of "high" levels of delays, as air traffic control company Nats said: "We are doing all we can to fix it as soon as possible."
It is currently unclear how long the disruption is due to last, but Heathrow and Gatwick staff said flights were now departing and hope to be back to normal by tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Eurostar trains were suspended after a power cable "exploded" on a platform at Paris Gare du Nord, according to a manager.
Eurostar later said there was no cable explosion at the station, but a power issue was causing massive delays.
And Britain's rail network was also sent into meltdown as this week's travel misery continues.
What we know so far:
- British Airways cancelled at least 30 flights from Heathrow on Friday
- A breakdown with the UK's air traffic control system has hit flights
- Stranded fliers have been stuck at Heathrow for up up 16 hours
- Eurostar suspended trains after an overhead power cut at Paris Gare du Nord station
- Scorching temperatures damaged overhead electric wires between London St Pancras and Luton, blocking lines
- Cancellations on East Midlands Trains, Great Northern, Greater Anglia and Thameslink trains
Heathrow is the worst hit airport today, with British Airways cancelling at least 30 flights as raging passengers blasting "disgraceful scenes" and seven-hour queues.
One passenger tweeted this morning: "My sister with her little kids is stuck in a plane for 10 hours and it never took off.
"They didn't let the passengers out I am sure because they wanted to avoid the crowd.
"But 10 hours in an idle plane is level-3 frustration. Well done Heathrow."
A video showed hundreds of Heathrow passengers queuing for taxis at the airport.
Another flier raged today: "We have been stranded at Heathrow for 16 hours. British Airways have been absolutely appalling.
"No help whatsoever. We sat on the plane for 5 hours with very little information."
And a third Heathrow traveller fumed: "Terrible service by Heathrow Airport tonight. If you can’t deal with a thunderstorm how can you even imagine dealing with no deal Brexit?!
"Stuck on a plane for an hour because there are no workers to bring the steps! Very disappointing!"
HEATHROW HELL
A Balkan brass band entertained one group of passengers stuck on a plane for three and a half hours.
Heathrow and Gatwick apologised to travellers for today's chaos, and advised them to check with their airlines before flying.
One Heathrow flier told BBC Radio’s Five Live: “Thousands of passengers in Terminal Five waiting to rebook our flights, which were all cancelled last night.
“There is just no room for everybody. There are no seats. People are just all over the floor. It’s not a pleasant experience.”
Five flights departing Luton were cancelled, but three were due to strikes in Italy, a spokesman said.
And another flier raged at BA, tweeting: "NO staff at all available to help stranded passengers from midnight to 4.30am.
"Dreadful service and still no nearer to getting help after cancelled flight. It's chaos at Heathrow T5."
Passengers on one flight from Luton were kept on board for six hours as the plane was stuck on the runway.
Delays are hitting London City Airport today after ten cancellations yesterday.
The complete system meltdown, which has been blamed on electrical storms in Britain and Europe, comes after London was brought to a standstill by rail cancellations.
On Friday, only two rail services out of four were running out of London's busy St Pancras Station.
East Midlands Trains advised passengers not to travel on the St Pancras, Nottingham to Sheffield route today after damage to overhead lines.
Greater Anglia trains told rail travellers to expect cancellations from London's Liverpool Street on Friday due to high temperatures affecting rail infrastructure.
The overnight train disruption continued into Friday, with more delays and cancellation causing rush-hour hell and trains in the wrong places overnight.
One London commuter was pictured entering a tube station in his trunks and flip flops to beat the heat.
Train lines from London to Luton, Stansted and Gatwick airports were all hit by cancellations as the travel pain continues today.
TRAIN MELTDOWN
Commuters on Great Northern and Thameslink also face travel misery as this week's extreme heat sparks more cancellations today.
Passengers unable to get home on Thursday were stuck at St Pancras overnight, with Eurostar trains also cancelled.
An angry traveller tweeted this morning: "Hundreds of people stuck in St Pancras this morning bc Eurostar is claiming they don’t have any tickets anymore.
"Just got on the train and half of the business wagon is empty. Is this y’alls idea of customer service?"
The lack of trains meant many air passengers were also stranded at airports.
One Luton passenger raged: "Thank you so much @easyJet for letting us wait 3 and a half hours to be told that our flight is cancelled, no flights tomorrow and we are missing our families wedding in Rome tomorrow, with no explanation. Absolutely gutted."
Passengers were stuck in Stansted and Luton when it emerged that trains weren't running because of the blistering heat.
A spokesman for London Luton airport said: "Thunderstorms across Europe, tracking towards South East of England have resulted in air traffic control restrictions this evening, causing a number of delays and cancellations at all London airports."
Irate motorists came close to blows after Eurotunnel went down in the blistering heat.
Shops at the Folkestone terminal ran out of food and water, while the disruption also sparked massive queues at Kings Cross.
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