The UK’s summer getaway turned chaotic on “Frantic Friday,” as Heathrow Terminal 3 was evacuated due to a fire alarm. “The line for passport control is literally backed up the entire terminal,” tweeted traveler Christina Warren. Another passenger reported, “Nearly two hours and the line has barely moved.”

Heathrow later reopened, with an official stating, “The incident has now been stood down. We apologise for any disruption.” However, passengers still faced long delays.

The chaos extended beyond airports. The M11 near Stansted was shut in both directions after crashes, causing 7-mile tailbacks. Train disruptions also hit Gatwick Express, Southern, Thameslink, and other rail services due to signal failures and obstructions.

Roads around Dover were jammed as vacationers and freight lorries queued to enter the port. The Port of Dover reported hour-long delays and increased staff, AI-powered traffic forecasting, and more facilities to “minimise disruption.”

According to RAC, 2.7 million trips were expected on Friday alone. With over 26.9 million journeys predicted this week, traffic is likely to peak midday. Drivers were advised to travel before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m. “Tomorrow is expected to be the single busiest day for summer traffic,” said RAC’s Nick Mullender.