American rapper and hip hop star Nicki Minaj missed her supporting slot at Wireless Festival on Sunday because of “travel issues”, organisers said.

They were left red-faced after being forced to admit that they had lost touch with the multi-award winning artist when she failed to appear on stage at Finsbury Park in north London.

A message which flashed up on screen said: “Special announcement: we are told that she was due to be speeding down the M1 from Luton Airport as we speak but we have lost contact with her, we are hoping that she will be here soon.”

Nicki Minaj performing at the Roskilde Festival in Denmark on Saturday. Photo: David Leth Williams/Scanpix Denmark/Reuters

The Starships singer finally made it on stage to perform one song with festival co-headliner David Guetta, her spokesman said.

The previous night, Minaj had performed at a festival in Denmark.

Highways England earlier reported heavy congestion between junctions nine and eight in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, close to Luton Airport, following a car fire.

Ticketholders at the weekend festival booed when the star failed to start her highly-anticipated set.

Abie Smith, 23, said she was “gutted”.

“I was here to see to see Nicki,” she said.

“But now I need to go home as I’m working tomorrow.

“They maybe should have sorted out the timings a bit better.

“I just love Nicki, so I’m gutted.”