Overview
- British Airways flight BA2673 from Palma de Mallorca landed at Gatwick on Wednesday but a reported nose‑wheel steering fault left the Airbus A320 unable to vacate the runway, prompting a temporary closure.
- At least nine crews declared emergency using the 7700 code while holding because their fuel approached minimum reserves, a call that gives aircraft priority handling by air traffic control.
- Fourteen Gatwick arrivals were diverted to airports including Heathrow, Luton, Stansted, Birmingham and Bristol, and several flights entered holding patterns over southern England.
- Airport fire and rescue teams attended the British Airways jet as a precaution, passengers disembarked safely, and the runway reopened about 01:30 after the aircraft was removed.
- The disruption highlighted Gatwick’s single regularly used runway as a point of vulnerability and officials say a technical follow‑up and standard investigation into the fault will take place.