Emergency at London Gatwick Airport

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.

Tom Vaughan, travel insurance expert at Confused.com, comments: "Landing somewhere completely different to where you booked can be stressful, especially if you're not told why straight away. Diversions can happen for all sorts of reasons, from technical issues to another aircraft blocking the runway.

"If this does happen to you, it's worth knowing your rights if you end up landing far away from home. Our research shows that over 2 in 5 (41%) holidaygoers aren’t aware of their rights when it comes to airline compensation. Your airline has a duty of care if your flight is diverted. This means keeping you updated, covering reasonable costs like meals and accommodation if you're delayed overnight, and getting you back to your original destination. Whether you're also entitled to compensation depends on what caused the diversion. If it was down to something within the airline's control you may have a claim, but if it was bad weather or a safety issue, this is treated as outside their control and compensation won't apply.

"Travel insurance wouldn't usually step in here, as these costs are the airline's responsibility rather than something your policy is designed to cover. So it's best to contact your airline first, keep hold of any receipts, and only turn to your insurer if the airline won't help or your costs go beyond what they're liable for." 

Get the latest BREAKING NEWS for the SOUTH on your phone by downloading the V2 RADIO APP today! Read with ease, no annoying pop-up ads.

V2VOUCHERS.CO.UK is offering half-price deals on a wide range of experiences across the South, from meals out at local restaurants to tickets for some of the region’s biggest events.