Numerous flights delayed, diverted as Gatwick Airport shuts runway over oil spillage caused by Virgin 747 dumping fuel
Gatwick Airport has shut its runway this morning because of an oil spillage, preventing all flights from leaving or landing.
Reports suggest a Virgin 747 dumped fuel on the tarmac, causing widespread delays since mid-morning.
Difficulties at London Gatwick airport, many flights are diverting.
Follow live: https://t.co/x9HwOITysZ pic.twitter.com/dYvxlxkaWD— RadarBox (@RadarBoxCom) February 29, 2016
The London airport tweeted this morning that it had been shut "temporarily" and would reopen "shortly" – but passengers complained they had been stuck without taking off for more than 80 minutes before that, and complained about the lack of information being given out.
The runway has been closed temporarily due to a spillage on the runway, but will reopen shortly.
— London Gatwick LGW (@Gatwick_Airport) February 29, 2016
The spillage was causing numerous delays to flights, with some now due to take off several hours after they were originally scheduled. Flights due to land at Gatwick have been diverted to other airports.
As the issue wore on, passenger patience started to wear out…
Typical Monday.. The whole @Gatwick_Airport is shut down and flights reverted to other airports just my luck 😡😡😡
— Kristina Rihanoff (@KRihanoff) February 29, 2016
.@Gatwick_Airport the runway has been closed for ages: been sitting on it for 80 mins now. Why did it take so long to share this publicly?
— Claire Rowland (@clurr) February 29, 2016
https://twitter.com/VulcanLew/status/704252634115534848
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