Multiple airports in the United Kingdom experienced delays on Tuesday evening due to a widespread “technical issue” that caused a malfunction in the electronic systems of the UK Border Force. Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Newcastle, and Edinburgh airports all reported issues with the system, leading to significant delays for passengers that lasted over four hours.

In a release issued today, the Home Office stated that the system network problem was identified at 7:44pm on Tuesday. The officials confirmed that the e-gates at UK airports were operational again just after midnight, emphasizing that border security was not compromised and there was no evidence of any malicious cyber activity.

UK Airports: Massive Disturbance Today, Normal Tomorrow

According to the official government website, there are more than 270 e-Gates in Great Britain’s airports and rail stations. These e-Gates are typically used to provide efficient service through facial recognition technology for UK and EU citizens, as well as other individuals. Apparently, Belfast airport, lacking e-Gates, experienced disruptions in its Border Force systems, just as UK air hubs.