Gatwick Airport latest: Travel chaos with flights cancelled and passengers stranded as update released
A spokesperson said the security alert has now been resolved while passengers facing cancellations should contact their airlines
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Your support makes all the difference.Gatwick Airport’s south terminal has reopened after police called a bomb disposal squad and evacuated passengers to assess a “suspected prohibited item” which was found in luggage.
Passengers were ordered to leave a large part of the south terminal of the UK’s second-busiest airport on Friday morning following the discovery at 8.20am.
The security issue has now been resolved, said an airport spokesperson, who also warned that there were delays and cancellations.
They said: “The earlier security alert has now been resolved and cleared by police. The South Terminal is reopening to staff and will be open to passengers shortly.”
Travellers flying from the south terminal have been unable to check in and are facing long delays as flights are disrupted.
Some passengers wrapped themselves in emergency foil blankets against the cold as they waited outside the building.
Earlier, Sussex Police said: “As a precaution, an EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) team is being deployed to the airport.
“This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the south terminal have been closed.
“We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible.”
In pictures: Passengers and air crew waiting outside Gatwick
Train lines reopen but delays expected
An update from the Gatwick Express have warned that delays are expected until 4.15pm, despite the lines reopening.
A statement read: Lines have reopened following the police dealing with an incident at Gatwick Airport earlier today. Trains may still be delayed by up to 20 minutes or revised.
“This is expected to continue until approximately 4.15pm.
“For the latest flight information and updates, please check directly with your airline operator.”
Nurse due to fly to Jamaica left ‘very frustrated’ by lack of updates
Nejadeen Braham, 35, who works as a nurse on the Isle of Man, was due to fly to her homeland of Jamaica to collect her children.
Speaking to reporters outside the south terminal, she said: “I couldn’t get in the airport. I saw everybody coming (out) from one direction.
“I was supposed to go inside, drop my bags and go through security. When I got here I saw everybody coming down.
“There were no proper updates. I’m very frustrated.”
London Gatwick reopens South Terminal
A London Gatwick spokesperson said: “The earlier security alert has now been resolved and cleared by police. The South Terminal is reopening to staff and will be open to passengers shortly.
“Trains will also start calling at Gatwick Airport once the terminal is fully reopened. We would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while this situation was resolved. Safety and security is always our top priority.
“There are some delays and cancellations, passengers should contact their airline for any updates on flights.”
316 flights had been scheduled to depart airport on Friday
Passenger information website National Rail Enquiries said: “The police are dealing with an incident at Gatwick Airport. The station and airport are currently being evacuated.
“Services are able to run through the station and area but will not call at Gatwick Airport at this time.
“Please avoid travelling to the station whilst this incident is ongoing.
“This is expected to continue until approximately 2pm.”
Aviation analytics website Cirium said 316 flights are scheduled to depart from the airport on Friday, with a total of more than 60,600 seats.
A further 318 flights are scheduled to arrive, with more than 61,400 seats.
Hotel helps travellers
An airport hotel allowed some stranded passengers to go in to get warm and charge their phones.
Check information online before coming, says BA
British Airways is advising passengers to check information online before travelling to Gatwick Airport.
A spokesperson told The Independent: “Like other airlines, we are experiencing some disruption to our flight schedule at Gatwick due to a security incident at the airport’s South Terminal.
“We are in contact with affected customers and giving them updates as and when we can. We’re also providing them with options including flight rebookings and hotel accommodation where necessary.
“We ask customers to check ba.com for the latest flight information before coming to the airport.”
Chaos extends into Surrey
The small commuter railway station of Horley in Surrey has suddenly become the main rail hub for Gatwick Airport.
North terminal is currently operating more or less normally but the problem is getting there and away. Fast trains are stopping there instead of at the airport’s own station, which is closed.
Passengers are either walking the 20-minute distance to North terminal, or paying a reported £30 for the two-mile journey.
Flight delays
Some flights have departed from the south terminal since the evacuation, meaning some passengers may have been unable to board.
A British Airways flight to Cancun, Mexico, took off at 11.16am, 26 minutes behind schedule.
Several British Airways departures are delayed by at least an hour and 40 minutes, including to Orlando, USA; Funchal, Portugal; and Tenerife, Spain.
Spanish carrier Vueling ordered an inbound flight from each of Barcelona and Seville to turn around and return to their starting airports.
A Norwegian flight to Bergen departed two hours and seven minutes late.
Your rights if your journey is disrupted
Passengers on any flights that are cancelled as a result of the security scare at Gatwick South Terminal are covered by air passengers’ rights rules, writes Simon Calder.
They stipulate that the cancelling airline must provide an alternative flight as soon as possible on any carrier.
While passengers are waiting, they must be provided with meals and, if necessary, accommodation. Cash compensation is not payable in addition, because the airlines are not responsible for the disruption.
Passengers whose flights left without them are in a trickier position. Thousands had arrived at Gatwick South Terminal, only to find they could not check in.
Many of them will have found their flight departed with whichever passengers had arrived before the security scare.
Legally, the airlines have no obligation to such travellers. In practice, though, airlines are likely to take a flexible attitude to passengers left behind, allowing them to transfer to later flights without penalty.
The problem then will be whether seats are available. Many flights are very heavily booked.
What are your rights when a flight goes wrong?
Rules for cancellations, overbooking and long delays are tangled. This guide is here to help
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