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BA emergency landing forces London Gatwick runway closure BA emergency landing forces London Gatwick runway closure
(about 1 hour later)
The runway at Gatwick Airport had to be closed and flights have been diverted after an inbound airliner requested an emergency landing. The runway at Gatwick Airport had to be closed and flights were diverted after an inbound airliner requested an emergency landing.
The British Airways Airbus from Naples landed shortly after midnight on Friday after reporting a technical fault.The British Airways Airbus from Naples landed shortly after midnight on Friday after reporting a technical fault.
The A320 remained on the runway while an inspection took place. The A320 remained on the runway while an inspection took place. The main runway was closed but reopened at 04:58 BST.
The airport said the main runway "remained temporarily unavailable whilst we switched to our standby". A handful of flights were diverted. A handful of flights had to be diverted before the standby runway was opened.
No-one was injured in the emergency landing and passengers were able to disembark the aircraft a short time later.No-one was injured in the emergency landing and passengers were able to disembark the aircraft a short time later.
British Airways said: "Our flight landed safely after our pilots requested a priority landing as a precaution after a technical fault.British Airways said: "Our flight landed safely after our pilots requested a priority landing as a precaution after a technical fault.
"Our engineers are currently conducting a thorough check of the aircraft.""Our engineers are currently conducting a thorough check of the aircraft."
An EasyJet service from Paphos and a TUI flight from Lanarca flew to other airports before the standby runway opened. Michael Edwards who was on a school trip returning to Gatwick from Naples on the affected flight, tweeted: "What a top bunch of students! Stayed mature and calm through a difficult situation! All smiles as we head for the bus!"
An EasyJet service from Paphos and a TUI flight from Lanarca flew to Birmingham before the standby runway opened.
A spokesman for Gatwick Airport said the passengers from the two diverted flights were returned to Gatwick by coach.