Overview
- A British Airways Airbus A320 on flight BA2673 from Palma de Mallorca became immobilized on Gatwick’s main runway in the early hours of Wednesday, and emergency services attended the aircraft.
- Flight‑tracking data show at least nine inbound aircraft transmitted the international Squawk 7700 emergency code to request priority handling as fuel ran low while they circled or awaited diversion clearances.
- Air traffic control diverted about 14 flights to nearby UK airports including Luton, Stansted, Heathrow, Birmingham and Bristol while the runway was blocked.
- Gatwick reopened its runway after recovery teams removed the disabled jet, with operations resuming around 1:30am and British Airways saying the flight landed safely and customers disembarked following a reported technical fault.
- The disruption affected hundreds of passengers with knock‑on delays and onward transport arrangements and is expected to prompt a technical review into the cause while underscoring long‑standing concerns about Gatwick’s single‑runway operating model.