London: London’s Gatwick Airport reopened its South terminal after police cleared a security alert that had disrupted traffic at the second-biggest UK hub for several hours. The terminal resumed operations for employees and will also be open to passengers shortly, a spokesman for Gatwick said by email. Trains will also call at the airport again once the building has fully resumed operations, the spokesman said.
“The earlier security alert has now been resolved and cleared by police,” the spokesman said.
The South terminal was evacuated earlier in the day, with Sussex police establishing a security cordon in the terminal following discovery of a “suspected prohibited item in luggage.” Police said they were called at 8:20 am and that they deployed an explosive ordnance disposal team as a precaution.
The South terminal is from where airlines including British Airways, EasyJet Plc, Wizz Air Holdings Plc, TUI AG, Turkish Airlines, Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA and TAP Portugal operate. Videos posted on X showed passengers being ushered out of the terminal building and long queues outside.
“Arrived at London Gatwick for routine connection. Got through customs to find out they’re evacuating the entire airport. Even people through security are being taken outside. Trains shut down and 1000’s of all over the streets and carparks waiting,” a commuter said on X.
Gatwick is the second-largest airport in the London area behind London Heathrow. Other airports in the capital include Luton and Stansted, which is located near Cambridge and serves mainly low-cost airlines.
