Glasgow airport temporarily closed for ‘security alert’ involving easyJet flight

‘All on easyJet EZY883 now being held at an empty gate for checks and searches – no filming allowed,’ tweeted Jessica Omari

Circle line: the flightpath of an inbound Icelandair flight that was held northwest of the airport due to a security alert (FlightRadar24)

Scotland’s second-busiest airport was temporarily closed because of a “security incident” involving an inbound easyJet flight from Gatwick.

Flight EZY883 from the Sussex airport touched down at 10.12am, according to easyJet.

After it landed, Glasgow airport’s only runway was closed. Inbound aircraft flew holding patterns until the airport re-opened about 40 minutes later.

The easyJet Airbus A319 was then taken to an empty gate, according to one passenger onboard, Jessica Omari.

She tweeted: “All on easyJet EZY883 now being held at an empty gate for checks and searches – no filming allowed.

“Everyone – police and passengers – very relaxed.”

Omari then told The Independent: "We have just been told there was a ‘potential security incident on your flight’ and police ‘will be speaking to all passengers’ before we can leave.

"No timescales or more info but expecting a briefing from airport manager on duty shortly."

The aircraft was due to fly to Jersey but is still on the ground at Glasgow.

A spokesperson for the airline said: “easyJet can confirm that passengers on flight EZY883 from London Gatwick to Glasgow was delayed disembarking on arrival in Glasgow, purely as a precaution, due to additional security checks.

“The passengers have been disembarked and taken into the terminal.

“The safety and security of its passengers and crew is always easyJet’s highest priority and we would like to thank passengers for their understanding.”

Many flights were delayed by up to 45 minutes as a result of the temporary closure, including British Airways to Heathrow and London City, and Flybe to Amsterdam.