PASSENGERS at Gatwick Airport were left agitated and frustrated after dozens of flights were cancelled, with security staff forced to intervene.

Departures to Poland, Spain, Italy and Israel were among those affected as the aviation sector continues to be impacted by staff shortages.

The late cancellation of one Wizz Air flight to Sicily sparked anger, with security stepping in after one man began shouting at staff.

Rosie, 28, who did not give her surname, was booked on the flight with her husband and two young children to visit her husband’s family.

The family from Bognor were at the departure gate when they were told the flight had been cancelled.

She told PA: “His family haven’t met our children yet - because of covid we haven’t been able to get out there, and I’ve been pregnant so haven’t been able to go. We wanted them to go and meet his family.

“The whole time we were told our flight was running on time, we then got told our flight was delayed by an hour.

“We came to the gate, and we all got ushered into the gate group to be told the flight was cancelled.

“There has been no communication - we’re only getting told now by Wizz Air that our flight’s been cancelled and it was already meant to be up in the air.”

It comes as thousands of holidaymakers have been stranded overseas after the cancellation of flights to the UK.

A spokesman for Wizz Air said: “We are so sorry that too many of our passengers are being subjected to current delays and, in some cases, cancellations.

“Across the travel industry Wizz Air and every airline are doing as much as we all can to help as many passengers as possible reach their destinations in time and with minimal delay.

“However, amongst other issues causing operational instability throughout the travel industry, there is a widespread shortage in staff, in particular within air traffic control, ground operations and baggage handling, security and across airports.

“Wizz Air has increased direct communications with all our customers through text, email and phone calls to ensure - as much as possible  that they are best informed of any changes in our services.”