Several flights diverted after plane blocks Gatwick runway

Several flights diverted after plane blocks Gatwick runway A number of flights were diverted from Gatwick Airport after an aircraft temporarily blocked one of the runways. Emergency services met the British Airways plane as a precaution after landing, following reports of a technical fault with the aircraft. One of the diverted flights, an already‑delayed EasyJet service from Rome to Gatwick, was forced to land at Stanstead Airport instead and subsequently remained stranded because it was unable to obtain fuel. Passengers remained aboard that aircraft for about two hours in the middle of the night before disembarking. The British Airways aircraft that had blocked the runway reportedly suffered a landing‑gear problem. The airline said the aircraft landed safely and passengers disembarked normally. A London Gatwick spokesperson stated: "Earlier this morning, the runway was closed for a abbreviated play owed to a method contented with an aircraft." The spokesperson added: "As a result, a tiny fig of flights were diverted, with the bulk aboriginal returning to London Gatwick. As always, information and information is our fig 1 priority." On Wednesday, Gatwick Airport experienced a number of delays to arrivals and departures, although it remained unclear whether those delays were linked to the earlier runway closure.