Gatwick Airport closed its runway on Friday afternoon after a departing aircraft aborted its takeoff, grounding all flights and prompting a large emergency response.
The affected aircraft, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner operated by Norse Atlantic Airways, was flight Z0701 bound for New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). It abandoned its takeoff roll on runway 26L, and around 20 emergency vehicles were reported on the runway.
Technical issue confirmed
An airport spokesperson said: "Due to a technical issue with a departing aircraft, our runway is currently closed. Our teams are working to move the aircraft and resume operations as quickly as possible."
"As always, safety and security is our number one priority."
Disruption expected
Flight tracking data shows multiple vehicles surrounding the aircraft. Travellers scheduled to fly in or out of Gatwick are advised to check their flight status directly with their airlines, as knock-on delays and air traffic backup are expected throughout the rest of the day.
