FLIGHTMARE
Gatwick Airport flights chaos as air traffic control fault closes runway delaying arrivals and departures for thousands
THOUSANDS of passengers faced delays and diversions after Gatwick Airport suspended all of its flights for two hours following a problem with their air traffic control system.
Arrivals were diverted to surrounding airports and cancelled as scores of departures halted at 5pm this evening.
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Flight operations resumed at the airport at 7pm this evening, but passengers are still facing delays.
By the time operations continued more than 80 scheduled to depart from Gatwick were delayed.
At least 11 arriving flights were cancelled.
At least 17 flights were diverted to other airports as an unconfirmed number went to Heathrow Airport and at least four flights were diverted to London Stansted.
A spokesperson from London Luton confirmed seven flights were diverted to the airport.
The airport declared a "gold emergency" - the most severe level in the airport's three-tier internal security system - after it suspended flights.
Were YOU caught up in this evening's travel chaos at Gatwick? Email Alahna Kindred at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4357. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502.
A spokesman for Gatwick Airport said: “Due to an air traffic control systems issue in Gatwick’s control tower, flights were suspended between 17.08 and 19.00.
"Flights have resumed, but passengers are advised to check the status of their flight with their airline before travelling to the airport as we return to full operations.”
"As we move back into full operations, we are likely to see some delays and further cancellations this evening.
"We apologise to passengers who have been affected and are aiming to operate a full schedule of flights tomorrow.
"We continue to advise all passengers travelling tonight or tomorrow to check the status of their flight with their airline before travelling to the airport.”
It was originally reported flights were expected to be suspended until at least 9pm.
Passengers took to Twitter to say they were told about a "computer issue".
One said: "Diverted flight from Gatwick to Stansted because of a ‘computer issue’ but didn’t have enough fuel to wait. This adds 2 hours to my way home. I have chronic fatigue syndrome and cannot manage 3 hours on trains to get home. How are you going to fix this?
"I SPECIFICALLY booked to Gatwick as it’s only an hour from home. I’m crashing already and cannot manage to get home from here.
"been told we will fly back to Gatwick now, but my fatigue is flaring and there’s no way I can make however long this delay is plus getting home."
Another added: "Apparently the system that scans the planes is broken, that’s what our pilot said anyway."
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Colin Kemp, a Conservative Councillor for Woking, said he was working with airport and rail network officials how to solve the ongoing issue.
He tweeted: "We are having those conversation with both Gatwick and Network Rial to identify the best way of delivering this.
"We are also talking to LHR about improving the southern rail link."
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A spokesman said earlier this evening: "Due to an air traffic control systems issue in Gatwick’s control tower, flights are currently suspended.
"We are working with ANS, our air traffic control provider, to rectify this issue as quickly as possible.
"We apologise and advise passengers to check with their airline or on our live flights page for the latest flight information."
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