US-bound passengers stuck at London and European airports after ESTA visa system goes down

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Passengers scheduled to fly to the US on an ESTA visa reported a system failure that prevented boarding earlier this morning. Travellers departing Frankfurt, Lisbon, London, Poland and Brussels shared check-in struggles on X/Twitter, all claiming the “ESTA system is down” between 7.30am and 9.30am. An X/Twitter user claimed flights headed for the US were leaving “without those of us who had ESTA visas on board” and several passengers reported being stranded at London Heathrow. One said: “As if the bleakest of days to travel to the US couldn’t get any bleaker - ESTA system is down and we’re all stuck at Heathrow looking at each other in confusion.” Another added: “ESTA Visa passengers currently not being allowed to board flights to the US at Heathrow.” Departing air passengers have since reported that problems with the ESTA system at check-in have been resolved.