This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/gatwick-airport-forced-close-main-runway-hole-tarmac-a7225886.html
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Gatwick Airport forced to close main runway because of 'hole' in the tarmac | Gatwick Airport forced to close main runway because of 'hole' in the tarmac |
| (3 days later) | |
| Gatwick Airport, one of the busiest travel hubs in the country, was forced to temporarily close its main runway on Sunday evening after a hole was reportedly found in the tarmac. | Gatwick Airport, one of the busiest travel hubs in the country, was forced to temporarily close its main runway on Sunday evening after a hole was reportedly found in the tarmac. |
| Planes were prevented from landing and forced to circle the skies above the airport. Some passengers reported that their flights had been diverted to Southampton, around 80 miles away. | Planes were prevented from landing and forced to circle the skies above the airport. Some passengers reported that their flights had been diverted to Southampton, around 80 miles away. |
| A backup runway, not usually used for public flights, was opened at around 7.40pm on Sunday evening. | A backup runway, not usually used for public flights, was opened at around 7.40pm on Sunday evening. |
| The full closure, which lasted around 10 minutes, was described as a "precautionary measure" after the hole was discovered during a routine inspection of the runway, an airport spokeswoman said. | The full closure, which lasted around 10 minutes, was described as a "precautionary measure" after the hole was discovered during a routine inspection of the runway, an airport spokeswoman said. |
| Eight aircraft were diverted in total and several flights delayed as a result of the find. | Eight aircraft were diverted in total and several flights delayed as a result of the find. |
| Gatwick is a single-runway airport but does have a second runway on site, which is only used when the main landing strip is unavailable. | Gatwick is a single-runway airport but does have a second runway on site, which is only used when the main landing strip is unavailable. |
| The airport tweeted in the wake of the incident: "Our main runway is now open and operating and we are working hard to get you on your way. | The airport tweeted in the wake of the incident: "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 one priority." | "We would like to apologise for any inconvenience this evening. Your safety is our number one priority." |
| Several passengers expressed their confusion on social media after discovering their flights had been diverted. | Several passengers expressed their confusion on social media after discovering their flights had been diverted. |
| One user, tweeting under the name Isobel, said: "Major turbulence the whole plane journey home and then we're diverted to an airport miles away from Gatwick because the runways shut". | One user, tweeting under the name Isobel, said: "Major turbulence the whole plane journey home and then we're diverted to an airport miles away from Gatwick because the runways shut". |
| Marie Leonard tweeted: "What's happening Gatwick-Airport tonight? Our flight has been diverted". | Marie Leonard tweeted: "What's happening Gatwick-Airport tonight? Our flight has been diverted". |
| Another passenger using the name Charla wrote: "Flight delayed then diverted to Southampton because all runways at Gatwick are closed ... great". | Another passenger using the name Charla wrote: "Flight delayed then diverted to Southampton because all runways at Gatwick are closed ... great". |
| Additional reporting by the Press Association | Additional reporting by the Press Association |