Gatwick Airport experienced runway disruptions early Wednesday morning when a British Airways aircraft, reporting a technical fault, temporarily blocked one of its runways. Emergency services attended the plane, which had landed safely with passengers disembarking normally, according to BA. The issue was reportedly related to the aircraft's landing gear.
As a result of the runway closure, a small number of flights were diverted. One EasyJet flight traveling from Rome to Gatwick was rerouted to Stansted Airport. This flight subsequently faced further complications, becoming stuck on the tarmac for over two hours due to an inability to secure fuel. Passengers remained on board until disembarking in the early morning hours.
A spokesperson for London Gatwick stated that the runway was closed for a short period and that safety remained the highest priority. While most diverted flights were able to return to Gatwick, some delays to arrivals and departures persisted throughout the day, though their direct connection to the earlier incident was not immediately clear.