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
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Gatwick Airport’s south terminal is set to reopen 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.”
South Terminal flights departing with long delays – and leaving passengers behind
The closure at Gatwick South Terminal only affects the “landside” area before the security checkpoint. Passengers who were “airside” at the time the incident began have been departing on flights with British Airways, Wizz Air and other airlines.
BA’s flights to Cancun in Mexico and Orlando in Florida have departed, albeit around an hour late. It is believed that not all the passengers booked on the flights were on board. The latest check-in time for the British Airways flight to Orlando, for example, was 10.20am, long after closure took effect. It is likely, therefore, that passengers who had not already checked in and passed through the security checkpoint were on board.
Airlines are likely to take a flexible attitude to passengers who were left behind, allowing them to transfer to later flights without penalty.
Passengers seen wrapped in emergency foil blankets as they wait at Gatwick Airport
Passengers have been seen wrapped in emergency foil blankets to shield themselves from the cold as they wait outside Gatwick Airport.
Pictures posted on social media show the travellers anxiously waiting for updates amid travel chaos at the south terminal building.
Passengers being let off planes at Gatwick due to cold and hunger, says traveller
Passengers are being let off planes at Gatwick Airport due to cold and hunger, a fellow traveller has said.
In a post on X this afternoon, they said: “Update – people are being let off planes, but only because they are cold or hungry and it’s not moving again, I’ve been informed.”
Gatwick Airport’s north terminal is unaffected by incident
Gatwick Airport’s north terminal has been unaffected by the ongoing incident at the south terminal.
A large part of the south terminal building, meanwhile, has been evacuated.
Travellers flying from south terminal unable to check-in since incident began
Travellers flying from the south terminal have been unable to check-in since the incident at Gatwick Airport began.
Passengers are facing huge delays, with flight disruption already underway.
Hack for reaching (or leaving) Gatwick North Terminal by train
Gatwick airport rail station, which normally handles over 50,000 passengers a day, is closed. It is built into South Terminal, which has been evacuated. Trains are passing through without stopping.
North Terminal is functioning normally, but has no access to the rail station.
However, there is an alternative station on the main line from London and East Croydon: Horley, which is about a 20-minute walk from North Terminal. It is a slightly tricky journey and not recommended for those with heavy luggage.
Flight disruption now under way at Gatwick
Flight disruption is now under way at Gatwick. The Spanish budget airline Vueling has ordered two flights from Barcelona to Gatwick, as well as a single flight from Seville, to turn around and return to their starting points.
The corresponding outbound flights to Spain will also be grounded.
Police been seen arriving at Gatwick Airport
Police have been seen arriving at Gatwick Airport.
A passenger reported officers arriving at the scene at 11.53am.
Police reveal bomb squad called in after suspected prohibited item found in luggage at Gatwick
Police have revealed that a bomb squad has been called in after a “suspected prohibited item” was discovered in luggage at Gatwick Airport, causing the evacuation of a large part of the South Terminal.
In a statement issued on Friday morning, Sussex Police said: “Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20am on Friday (22 November) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with.
“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.”
Captain of plane waiting at Gatwick Airport ‘tells passengers incident is over suspicious package'
The captain of a plane waiting at Gatwick Airport has told passengers the incident is over a suspicious package, according to media reports.
One of the passengers on a plane waiting on the tarmac was interviewed by LBC and said to the broadcaster that this is what they were told.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments