Motorcyclist dies after hit-and-run crash on M11 motorway near Stansted Airport

A motorcyclist has died following a collision on the M11 motorway (Picture: PA)
A motorcyclist has died following a collision on the M11 motorway (Picture: PA)

A motorcyclist has died after a hit-and-run crash on the M11 near Stansted Airport.

The motorbike was in a collision with a “small dark-coloured vehicle” at about 5am on Wednesday.

The vehicle failed to stop at the scene, police said.

They said the motorcyclist, a man in his 60s, died at the scene.

The M11 was closed southbound between junction 8 for Stansted Airport and junction 7 for Harlow.

The northbound route was closed between junction 6 and junction 8 but has since reopened.

The closures caused five-hour delays for some passengers heading to and from Stansted Airport in Essex.

Many passengers faced missing their flights, and budget airline Ryanair said customers affected would be moved to the next available plane for free.

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Police said the road is expected to be closed into this afternoon and that they are working with Highways England to open it “as soon as possible”.

A Ryanair spokesman said: “Customers travelling to/from Stansted Airport this morning should be aware of severe traffic disruption due to the closure of the M11 motorway.

“Flights will depart as scheduled – customers who miss flights due to this closure will be transferred to the next available flight free of charge.”

EasyJet advised passengers to leave extra time to get to the airport, and said one flight to Amsterdam had been delayed because a crew member was stuck in traffic.

A spokesman for Stansted Airport said: “The closure of the M11 has impacted some passengers travelling to London Stansted Airport by road. However, the airport itself has been open and operating as normal all day.

“Since early this morning, we have been advising passengers to check with highways authorities and their airlines for the latest information and advice, and we understand airlines including Ryanair and easyJet have been rebooking passengers on to later flights free of charge.”

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