Gatwick Airport closes main runway after hole appears on tarmac

Gatwick Airport closes main runway after hole appears on tarmac
Gatwick Airport closes main runway after hole appears on tarmac




Gatwick Airport was forced to temporarily close its main runway on Sunday night after a hole was found in the tarmac.

A number of flights had to be diverted before back-up runway, not usually used for commercial jets, was opened at around 7.40pm.

The closure was described by the airport as a "precautionary measure" after the hole was discovered during a routine inspection.

According to the Independent, around 10 flights were diverted while several flights were delayed.

Gatwick Airport tweeted: "Our main runway is now open and operating and we are working hard to get you on your way.


"We would like to apologise for any inconvenience this evening. Your safety is our number 1 priority."


The BBC reports that the full closure actually only lasted 10 minutes.

It added that Gatwick is a single-runway airport, but has a second runway that is only used when the main runway is unavailable.

Speaking to the Guardian, an airport spokesman said on Monday: "Yesterday evening at 7.40pm, Gatwick had to switch operations from our main southern runway to our backup northern runway, as a precautionary measure, following findings during one of our regular maintenance checks.

"During this change there was a short period when the airport was unable to accept landing aircraft, resulting in approximately 10 aircraft being diverted and subsequent delays to flights. Aircraft continued to take off and land using our northern runway and we switched back to our main runway at 9.46pm."

A number of people took to social media to vent their frustrations.

One wrote: "When you're part of the #Gatwickairport runway situation and end up at Heathrow three hours delayed with the car at Gatwick #greatendtoholiday."

Another wrote: "Flight delayed then diverted to Southampton because all runways at Gatwick are closed ... great".





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