‘Sea of luggage’: Photographs reveal airline chaos

Chaotic photos have emerged from the US as thousands of flights are cancelled, leaving passengers stranded and luggage piling up.

Chaotic photos have emerged showing a mind-boggling amount of luggage piling up at airports around the US.

It comes as Delta Airlines experiences significant flight operation disruptions following the global CrowdStrike outage.

The US Transportation Department has announced it is launching an investigation after the airline cancelled more than 5000 flights since Friday. As a result, thousands of passengers have been stranded and many have been left without their luggage.

Every airline was affected by the IT outage, however Delta cancelled hundreds more flights than its US rivals. By Monday, American and United only had dozens of cancellations, according to flight tracking websites.

However, there were 784 Delta flights cancelled as of early afternoon Monday. This was more than half the total cancellations, according to the FlightAware website.

Delta passengers try to find their bags after cancelled flights at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta. Picture: Jessica McGowan/Getty Images via AFP

It could take some time to recover. Picture: Jessica McGowan/Getty Images via AFP

It also experienced 1028 flight delays on Monday — which was higher than its main competitors.

Delta continues to cancel hundreds of flights daily due to issues with its crew tracker application.

This has left many passengers scrambling to recover their bags.

At Denver International Airport’s fifth level baggage claim area, Delta was the only airline to have thousands of suitcases scattered around, CBS News reported.

“I was a little nervous when I walked up and saw the sea of luggage,” Amy Clifton, a Delta customer, said.

“I heard a worker say the bags behind us have been here for a few days.”

A delayed Delta Airlines plane sits on the tarmac at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Picture: Brandon Bell/Getty Images/AFP

Delta employees try to locate passengers' luggage. Picture: Jessica McGowan/Getty Images via AFP

Ms Clifton was booked to fly with her husband from Colorado, where they were holidaying, to Atlanta with Delta however had been hit with three consecutive day of major cancellations. Luckily, they were able to grab their bag shortly after checking in. Others weren’t so fortunate and still don’t know where their bags are.

Ms Clifton is still considering the best means to get home to Atlanta.

“Now we are thinking it might be better to get a car and drive 21 hours home, we aren’t sure what to do yet,” she said.

Amy Clifton talks about her flight issues with Delta. Picture: CBS News

Fellow Delta passenger Amanda Harrison, who was meant to leave Denver on Sunday prior to her flight being cancelled, said she went more than 24 hours without her suitcase.

“I found out it was an indefinite time before my bag was going to be back,” Ms Harrison said. “It was a little nerve-racking because all my stuff was in here and I don’t have any clothes, I am wearing my dad’s clothes.”

She managed to get her bag back a day later.

An investigation is being launched. Picture: Jessica McGowan/Getty Images via AFP

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said an investigation is being launched into the airline to “ensure the airline is following the law and taking care of its passengers during continued widespread disruptions … Our department will leverage the full extent of our investigative and enforcement power to ensure the rights of Delta’s passengers are upheld”.

Departure monitors show cancelled and delayed flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on July 19, 2024, in Arlington, Virginia. Picture: Mandel Ngan/AFP

Travellers wait in the baggage area to ask Delta staff where their luggage is at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Michigan. Picture: Joe Raidle/Getty images via AFP

Mr Buttigieg estimated Delta’s missteps affected about 500,000 people, saying that officials have received more than 3000 complaints from Delta customers.

“I’m hearing a lot of things I’m very concerned about, including people being on hold for hours and hours trying to get a new flight, people having to sleep on airport floors,” he said.

Travellers from France wait on their delayed flight on the floor of the Delta Air Lines terminal at Los Angeles International Airport. Picture: Mario Tama/Getty Images via AFP

Exhausted travellers on the ground at the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. Picture: Joe Raedle/Getty Images via AFP

Delta said it is fully co-operating with the notice of investigation, and that the outage occurred at the busiest summer travel weekend in the airline’s history.

“Delta teams are working tirelessly to care for and make it right for customers impacted by delays and cancellations as we work to restore the reliable, on-time service they have come to expect from Delta,” the airline said.

Delta said it’s co-operating with the investigation. Picture: Jessica McGowan/Getty Images via AFP

Delta CEO Ed Bastian said on Monday it would take another couple of days before its operations recover.

He also apologised to customers in a message posted to the carrier’s website.

“Our teams have been working around the clock to recover and restore full functionality,” said Bastian, who issued a travel waiver to customers to make changes at no charge.

news.com.au has contacted Delta Airlines for further comment.

– With AFP