A British Airways aircraft blocked the runway at London Gatwick Airport early Wednesday, triggering an unprecedented emergency response that left nine passenger jets unable to land and running critically low on fuel. The incident, which began shortly after midnight, caused widespread disruption across London's airspace, with flights forced into holding patterns or diverted to alternative airports.
BA Flight BA2673 Triggers Emergency Response
British Airways flight BA2673, arriving from Palma de Mallorca, landed at Gatwick and was immediately met by airport rescue and firefighting services. The aircraft became disabled on the runway, prompting an emergency closure. According to Flightradar24, the BA jet was later removed from the runway, but the disruption had already escalated.
“BA2673 landed earlier and was attended to by airport rescue and fire fighting services. Now taxiing to the gate,” Flightradar24 reported via social media. The exact nature of the emergency remains unconfirmed.
Nine Flights Declare Squawk 7700 Emergencies
As the runway remained blocked, nine flights bound for Gatwick transmitted the Squawk 7700 emergency code—a universal transponder signal indicating a general in-flight emergency. This code alerts air traffic control across all radar systems, triggering priority handling and immediate emergency protocols.
Flightradar24 confirmed: “An issue at Gatwick as nine (9) flights originally bound for the London airport are currently squawking 7700 (likely due to low fuel).” The affected flights originated from multiple European destinations, including Tenerife, Valencia, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Rhodes, Athens, Bari, Rome, and Agadir.
Fuel Critical as Diversions Continue
With the runway out of order, inbound aircraft entered holding patterns while awaiting clearance to land. Fuel supplies became critical, prompting some flights to divert to other London airports. The situation created a cascading effect across the capital's air traffic system.
“Flights bound for Gatwick still holding or diverting elsewhere at the moment, though the BA flight is now off the runway,” Flightradar24 updated. The disruption continued into the early morning hours, with delays expected to persist.
Gatwick Airport: What We Know So Far
Key developments in the unfolding crisis include: a British Airways flight blocking the runway; nine flights declaring emergencies due to low fuel; and multiple diversions to alternative hubs. The runway has since been cleared, but air traffic controllers are working to manage the backlog of delayed and diverted flights.
Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest updates. The incident highlights the fragility of airport operations and the critical importance of rapid emergency response.
