BBC Chaos as hundreds queue for US flights Queues form outside Terminal 4 at Heathrow Heathrow Airport has been thrown into chaos as hundreds of people queue for the first few flights to US.

Emotions are high among the passengers - many of them American who are desperate to get home.

Airport staff have described the scenes as "unprecedented" with a mood of calm despite the crowds.

But the numbers are enormous and the new tightened security measures are adding to the delays.

There was some good news as BA announced it will run 27 services on Sunday and other airports restart services to the US.

Long delays

Many passengers have already faced days of delays and now wait anxiously to find out if their flight will leave on Saturday.

Airlines are aiming to give priority, on compassionate grounds, to those trying to get back to the States to find out about loved ones caught up in the tragic events in New York and Washington.

James Helm, reporting for BBC News 24 at Heathrow, said: ''People are getting quite emotional; they are very, very anxious to get home.

''Some people have waited days to get home. Many are waiting to get home to New York.''

He said people were trying to be patient but were filled with anxiety and frustration.

Among the Americans waiting to fly home was Classic car dealer Grant Woods, 38, from Santa Monica.

He said: "You don't stand in a long queue by choice but you don't have any control over it. We are on a priority stand-by but if we can't get this one then we'll just have to get the next."

Another American passenger told how he left London for Virginia two days ago, only to find himself back in Heathrow on Saturday.

"We landed in Canada, stayed on the ground for 12 hours, stayed two nights in Canada, went back to the airport and now back to London," he said.

Frustration, but understanding

Lynne Rahn from Los Angeles, who has been on holiday with her husband Walter, was due to fly back on 13 September.

''It's frustrating but you have to take it in context: it's nothing compared with losing loved ones or being in the twin towers."

A British Airways spokeswoman said the airline was doing all it could to help passengers. Staff have been handing out food and drink to people in the queue.

BA said it will operate 27 services to the US on Sunday and its four usual flights to Canada.

It means the airline is operating at 70% of its usual service from Heathrow and more than 80% from Gatwick.

The first flight will be at 0845 BST bound for JFK airport in New York.

British Midland resumed flights to Chicago and Washington from Manchester Airport on Saturday.

American and United Airlines are both running flights as is Virgin Atlantic.

Airlines are warning passengers to expect delays of at least three hours, due to the extra security measures.

A definitive list of items now banned from being taken into aircraft cabins has been released and passengers are urged to comply with them.

The list includes toy or replica guns (plastic or metal), as well as household cutlery and knives with blades of any length.

Also banned are letter openers, razor blades, tradesmen's tools, darts, scissors, knitting needles and sports goods such as rackets, cricket bats and golf clubs.

Passengers found with these items will be asked to place them in their hold luggage or have them confiscated if they have only hand luggage with them.

-- Anonymous, September 15, 2001