Bomb Scare Shuts Down Gatwick South Terminal
Gatwick Airport became a scene of confusion and frustration after a suspicious package forced officials to evacuate the entire South Terminal. Just before noon, the sight of police cars and emergency vehicles racing to the terminal signaled something serious. For nearly five hours, operations ground to a halt as passengers waited for answers on the chilly concourse or huddled outside, glued to their phones.
The security teams weren’t taking any chances. When screening staff found a suspected prohibited item in a traveler’s bag, they sounded the alarm and called in Sussex Police. Anyone inside was told to leave the area immediately. As bomb disposal experts worked to secure the item, two people who were with the luggage were questioned and briefly detained. Their names weren’t shared, but after being interviewed, police allowed them to continue their journeys, which sparked some relief among travelers but didn’t answer every question.
During those tense hours, officers kept everyone far back from the terminal. Inside, specialized teams used X-rays and robotics to assess the item. By 4:00 pm, officials gave the all-clear and let passengers and staff return. The police stressed their focus on public safety and thanked everyone for dealing with the disruption.
Airlines and Travelers Face Massive Delays
Even after the South Terminal reopened, it took hours to restore some sense of order. Flights were stacked up on runways with nowhere to go. Flight delays and cancellations stretched across several major airlines, including British Airways and Norwegian. Some jetliners coming in from Barcelona and Seville found themselves rerouted by Vueling Airlines, which diverted to avoid the chaos. While the North Terminal kept moving, all the pressure shifted there as affected travelers scrambled to rebook or reroute their plans.
Movement to and from the airport became a nightmare. The usual fleet of trains servicing the airport ground to a halt, further complicating things for fliers trying to connect from London or nearby towns. Taxis struggled to meet the sudden surge in demand, and long queues snaked from the taxi stands as disappointed families and frazzled business travelers waited their turn. Airport staff, backed by extra police, tried to keep people informed, but the sheer scale—an estimated 100,000 travelers affected—meant packed waiting areas and short tempers.
Security checks tightened up as flights resumed, which only added to wait times, with stories surfacing of people standing in line for hours. Some missed connections altogether and faced late-night dashes to nearby hotels, quickly snapped up as word spread that a normal travel day had turned into a logistical headache.
The whole episode served as a sharp reminder that, despite advances in airport security, one suspicious bag can grind a major airport to a standstill and ripple through travel plans as far away as Spain. While Sussex Police praised the patience of travelers and staff, many left the terminal looking worn out for reasons that had nothing to do with long-haul flights.
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