Chaos at Heathrow Airport after British Airways IT allocation failure strands passengers on planes and causes hours of delays collecting luggage

Heathrow Airport is facing severe delays following an IT failure in British Airways' systems.

The UK's most popular airport said tonight on X that passengers travelling from Terminal 5 'may be impacted' by the failure in BA's Allocation systems, adding that no other airline has been affected. 

Video from the Terminal taken tonight shows massive queues forming across the airport, as passengers struggle to correctly find their luggage. 

One video showed a massive series of queues form outside BA's baggage claim area in the terminal, as well as the customer assistance desk in the arrivals' area. 

Earlier tonight, British Airways sent a text to affected passengers that read: 'We're sorry to inform you that, due to a technical issue with our baggage allocation system at Heathrow, we can't guarantee that your bags will have travelled with you on your flight today.'

The airline added that it had sent out emails with further information to passengers. 

Despite Heathrow's claims that no other airline has been affected by BA's IT failure, analysis of FlightRadar data shows that almost all the flights that departed from Heathrow this evening were delayed significantly, with many being cancelled outright. 

Just 11 out of the 174 flights that were due to leave the airport since 6pm tonight left on time, data showed. 

Passengers were furious with the delay. One took to X to say: 'Shambles at Heathrow Airport, no bags arriving. No info just told to go home. but need the bag for a wedding tomorrow and you're telling me 48 hours for by bag!!! NO INFO'

Another social media user called the situation 'disgraceful.'

MailOnline has contacted British Airways and Heathrow Airport for comment.  

More to follow.