HUNDREDS of holidaymakers travelling from Stansted Airport missed their flights due to a "technical issue".

Furious passengers took to social media to express their anger, having spent hours queuing and missing flights.

The problem with the X-ray machines emerged at around 4.30am on Tuesday and was resolved by 8.15am.

Passengers posted photographs of large crowds inside the terminal building on social media.

One traveller, posting on Twitter with the username Kate-Elizabeth, wrote: "All the scanners went down at Stansted Airport.

"There was a huge pile up, staff didn't prioritise the times of anyone's flights and Ryanair didn't hold the flight for all those delayed.

"It was still on the tarmac when we all eventually got to the gate only to be told we couldn't board.

"Missed flight so now in another huge queue with loads of others trying to get another one. All staff completely unhelpful."

She added she was "quite honestly doing my best not to cry this morning".

The area has returned to normal and an apology has been issued.

A Stansted Airport spokesman said: “Due to a technical issue earlier this morning with a number of X-ray machines in the main security area,  throughput capacity was reduced, taking extra time to process passengers.

"Engineers rectified the issue and additional measures were put in place to minimise the impact to passengers and assist them with their onward journey. 

"We apologise for the inconvenience caused. The area has now returned to normal.”

A spokesman for Ryanair said: “While we regret any inconvenience caused by this power failure at London Stansted Airport, Ryanair is not responsible for airport security delays."

Stansted is the fourth busiest airport in the UK and is used by an average of 67,000 passengers each day.