A serious road traffic collision involving four vehicles brought the M11 southbound to a standstill near Stansted Airport on Saturday 7 December 2025. The incident occurred shortly after 3:30 pm between Junction 8 (Bishop’s Stortford) and Junction 7A (Harlow), forcing the closure of all lanes for more than four hours.
Essex Police, National Highways, and multiple ambulance crews attended the scene. Initial reports indicate that a lorry, two vans, and a car were involved in the crash, with debris scattered across the carriageway. Paramedics treated three individuals at the roadside; two were subsequently taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow with injuries described as serious but not life-threatening.
Traffic monitoring service Inrix reported queues stretching back more than ten miles, reaching as far as Junction 10 near Saffron Walden. Thousands of passengers heading to Stansted Airport for evening flights faced severe disruption, with many forced to abandon vehicles on approach roads or seek alternative routes via the A120 and local villages.
National Highways diverted southbound traffic via the northbound carriageway in a contraflow arrangement while recovery and investigation work took place. The road fully reopened shortly before 8:00 pm, although residual delays persisted well into the night as the backlog cleared.
Detectives from Essex Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit have launched an enquiry and are appealing for dash-cam footage. Early indications suggest that surface water and sudden braking in heavy traffic may have contributed, though the exact cause remains under investigation.
A spokesperson for National Highways East warned drivers to exercise extra caution during the winter period, reminding motorists to maintain greater stopping distances in wet conditions. The incident marks the third significant crash on that stretch of the M11 in the past six weeks, renewing calls from local MPs for improved drainage and lighting.
Stansted Airport advised passengers to allow an additional hour for journeys on Sunday morning, with some airlines reporting knock-on delays to early departures. The airport handled the situation by opening extra security lanes to accommodate late-arriving travellers affected by the closure.