DOZENS of flights have been delayed, grounded and forced to turn back mid-air after Gatwick Airport was evacuated over "bomb" fears. A "suspected prohibited item" was found in some luggage in the South Terminal this morning, with thousands of passengers now in limbo. There's chaos in the skies as planes are making U-turns or remain idling on the runway.
Holidaymakers have been ordered to "get out now and stay far away", while trains are suspended to the UK's second busiest airport. Pictures and video footage show hordes of passengers waiting in the airport terminal. Some have been left stuck on flights.
Serena Danna wrote on X that she and fellow passengers are "locked in the plane", adding: "At the moment we only know that the bomb squad intervened and that train and car traffic are blocked." Cops scrambled to the South Terminal at 8.20am, while Explosive Ordance Disposal officers are also on hand as a "precaution".
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. Most read in Travel Several flights on the South Terminal departures board are currently listed as being delayed, including the KM Malta 1155 to Malta (KM117), Air Baltic 1155 to Malta (BT6060), easyJet 1210 to Hurghada (EZY8745), easyJet 1230 to Rome (EZY6506) and easyJet 1250 to Antalya (EZY8555) although more disruptions a.
