Tenerife South Airport chaos sees UK families trapped for hours in sweltering, overcrowded passport queues

Hundreds of British holidaymakers faced chaotic and dangerous conditions at Tenerife South Airport (TFS) after arriving for their half-term breaks, with some parents reportedly lifting children onto their shoulders to prevent them from suffocating in the packed arrivals hall.

The incident occurred on 26 May 2025, when several UK flights landed in quick succession, causing a severe bottleneck at passport control. More than 500 people were crammed into the terminal with just two operational booths manned by four officers, according to Canarian Weekly. Passengers waited for over two hours in sweltering heat, with no access to toilets, water, or medical assistance.

Lourdes Torrecillas, a Tenerife resident returning from Bristol, described the ordeal as “inhumane” and “claustrophobic”. She said passengers were forced to wait on the plane for 45 minutes before being allowed to disembark, only to find broken escalators and massive queues at passport control. “Once inside, we couldn’t move our arms, we could barely breathe, and people were sweating. Some parents lifted their children onto their shoulders to stop them from suffocating,” she told local media, Canarian Weekly.

Families with young children and elderly passengers were among those most affected, as they struggled through the congested terminal carrying luggage without proper ventilation or support. Torrecillas also claimed airport staff admitted that similar scenes occur almost nightly, with reports of passengers fainting due to poor conditions.

Following mounting outrage, Spanish officials have called an emergency meeting to address the situation, which coincided with the start of the UK school holidays. The incident has reignited concerns over airport capacity and infrastructure, especially as travel demand surges post-pandemic.

Meanwhile, reports have also emerged from Madrid-Barajas Airport, where hundreds of rough sleepers have turned the terminal into a “hidden city”, raising further questions over airport management and resources across Spain.

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