M11 Essex: Long queues on motorway near Stansted Airport after horror crash leaves vehicle on roof

National Highways said the southbound route is expected to remain closed for several hours as police conduct investigation work following a serious collision that left a car overturned

Tannur Anders

06:18, 04 Feb 2026Updated 06:26, 04 Feb 2026

Traffic is backing up on the M11 in Essex near Stansted Airport(Image: National Highways)

Long queues have built up on a motorway near a major UK airport as National Highways has warned that the closure is expected to remain in place for some time and affect rush-hour traffic.

Traffic has been stopped[1] on the M11 in Essex southbound between J7 (Harlow) and J6 (M25 Interchange) on Wednesday, February 4, after a serious collision[2].

The crash occurred at 12.50am near the junction for those travelling to Stansted Airport[3] and has resulted in a car landing on its roof.

"The collision involves a vehicle which has overturned and has come to rest on its roof on the verge adjacent to the carriageway," National Highways said in a statement.

Emergency services are at the scene and traffic officers are assisting with traffic management.

Motorway camera footage from the scene shows long queues of traffic on the southbound route.

All lanes along the southbound route have been closed.

Traffic is backing up on the M11 in Essex after a serious crash left a vehicle on its roof(Image: National Highways)

National Highways has not provided an estimated time of reopening, but said in a post on social media platform X that the closure is likely to remain in place for several hours to allow for police investigation works.

Keep up-to-date with the incident here[4].

References

1. ^ Traffic has been stopped (www.mirror.co.uk)
2. ^ serious collision (www.mirror.co.uk)
3. ^ travelling to Stansted Airport (www.mirror.co.uk)
4. ^ here (www.mirror.co.uk)