Gatwick runway closure triggers nine flight emergencies

A significant disruption at London Gatwick Airport late Tuesday into Wednesday morning forced multiple inbound flights to divert after a British Airways aircraft blocked the main runway, triggering a widespread emergency response. The incident, which began shortly before midnight on July 14, led at least nine passenger jets to declare low-fuel emergencies and reroute to other airports, stranding hundreds of travelers.

The disruption originated when British Airways Flight BA2673, arriving from Palma de Mallorca, Spain, landed at Gatwick and remained on the runway. The aircraft was met by airport fire and rescue services, though authorities have not yet confirmed the specific nature of the technical issue that prompted the response. With the primary runway blocked, arriving aircraft were forced into holding patterns over southeast England.

As the delay stretched on, crews on several flights faced diminishing fuel reserves. According to flight-tracking data, at least nine aircraft transmitted the international emergency transponder code 7700, signaling a general emergency typically linked to low fuel in this context. The affected flights included services operated by easyJet,...