Flights were diverted and several aircraft declared emergencies after London Gatwick’s runway was temporarily closed overnight because of a technical problem involving a British Airways plane.
The disruption began late on Tuesday, 14 July, and continued into Wednesday after a flight arriving from Palma de Mallorca stopped on the runway. Airport fire and rescue crews attended the aircraft, preventing other planes from landing while the incident was dealt with.
The British Airways aircraft, flight BA2673, landed safely, and passengers were able to leave normally. However, incoming flights were forced to circle, divert or declare emergencies as crews managed their remaining fuel.
Fourteen flights were diverted to other airports, including Stansted and Luton. Eleven of those aircraft later returned to Gatwick carrying their passengers once the runway had reopened.
A London Gatwick spokesperson said: “Earlier this morning, the runway was closed for a short period due to a technical issue with an aircraft. As a result, a small number of flights were diverted, with the majority later returning to London Gatwick. As always, safety and security is our number one priority.”
The temporary closure caused delays for passengers arriving from several European holiday destinations during the busy summer travel season.
Flight tracking reports suggested a number of pilots used emergency codes while waiting or diverting. Such declarations can be made when an aircraft needs priority handling, including when fuel levels become a concern after an extended hold.
The runway reopened once the aircraft had been safely removed and normal operations gradually fully resumed.
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