Passengers have been left furious after some were forced to wait up to five hours for their luggage and others were told to head home without their bags. 

Baggage chaos erupted in Heathrow airport yesterday as hundreds of bags transported by British Airways were abandoned in terminal five.

Pictures of the travel chaos have emerged online showing droves of luggage and essentials abandoned across the terminal.  

It is understood Heathrow Airport is responsible for outbound baggage, while individual airlines hold responsibility for inbound luggage. 

One passenger aired their fury on X, writing: 'British Airways really disappointing with arriving back to T5 and total chaos at baggage arrivals. 

'Families waiting hours and told to go home as baggage abandoned all over airport.'

Another branded the situation an 'absolute joke', writing: 'Flight landed at 10:35 was delayed from getting of the plane for 30 minutes. 

'To then arrive at baggage reclaim waited 3 hours and two belt changes to be then told all the staff have gone home and you can’t get your baggage.' 

'What a shambles,' a passenger penned. 'No communication, no luggage and now your website is down to report the non retrievable luggage. 

'What is a customer supposed to do. Flight from Larnaca into Heathrow last night. Advise what I’m supposed to do?'

A customer branded the service from British Airways as 'awful' and 'totally unacceptable' as they asked when they would be receiving their essentials.  

Others claimed passengers were instructed to leave the airport without their luggage and told to file a lost baggage report. 

Meanwhile, baggage chaos also ensued for those travelling out of Heathrow amid technical issue which saw some flights leave without baggage onboard.

A traveller claimed to have seen their luggage 'sitting on the ramp beside' their aircraft in terminal five, with the plane departing 'without it being loaded'.

They added: 'We informed cabin crew but nothing was done. Traveling with 7 checked bags and an infant.' 

A mother voiced her fury that her daughter's 21st birthday celebrations in Dublin had been ruined by the fiasco. 

'British Airways my daughter flew from Heathrow yesterday to Dublin arrived to find no cases and been out on the flight,' she said. 

'No idea when they will receive them or if they even will. There for her birthday weekend for 21st birthday and absolutely ruined.'

A newlywed told how she was left 'devastated' to discover her bags were lost after landing in Corfu.  

'On our honeymoon in Corfu and British Airways have lost our bags,' Daisy wrote. 

'Absolutely devastated, never had this issue in 15 years and it happens on our honeymoon. Poor communication hours of waiting around and no bags arrived.'

British Airways and Heathrow Airport have been approached for comment.