UMVA has learned that a chaotic police incident at Manchester Airport’s Terminal 2 forced dozens of passengers to abandon their taxis and sprint across the hard shoulder toward the terminal.
Witnesses captured a surreal scene: drivers stepping out of their vehicles, shoes scuffing the asphalt, while a steady stream of travelers trekked the shoulder under a warm sky, all to catch a flight that was still scheduled to depart.
Although the disturbance snarled the drop‑off lanes and spilled onto the M56 slip road, the airport confirmed that flight operations remain intact, with only a handful of flights showing minor delays on tracking platforms.
One flustered passenger described the nightmare, “Manchester Airport big incident. Queuing traffic for miles. T2 closed and massive police incident,” highlighting the sheer scale of the gridlock that stretched for miles.
Terminal 3 continued to function normally, offering a small oasis of order amid the turmoil, while the upper and lower forecourts of Terminal 2 remained shuttered.
Bus services were not immune; several routes stalled in nearby Wythenshawe, and the High Peak operator announced that its 199 services would terminate at Stockport Interchange until the congestion eases.
Authorities urged drivers dropping off passengers at Terminal 2 to use the free drop‑off zone in the JetParks 1 car park and to obey traffic marshals directing the flow.
Metro has approached Greater Manchester Police for further comment, while passengers continue to navigate the improvised footpaths, hoping to reach their gates before boarding closes.
