Gatwick Airport’s South Terminal was evacuated on Friday morning due to reports of a suspicious package, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and in confusion. The incident unfolded at 10:55 GMT when Sussex Police acted swiftly, leading to the temporary detention of two individuals. Fortunately, they were later released and allowed to continue their travels.
As authorities worked to neutralize the situation, an explosive ordnance disposal team was deployed to ensure public safety. In the aftermath, around 40 flights were canceled out of more than 240 scheduled for the day, causing significant disruption for travelers.
Passengers experienced long waits in near-freezing conditions outside the terminal. Many expressed frustration over the lack of information and assistance from airport staff. One traveler, John Mather, described his experience after arriving from Costa Rica:
“No one seems to know what they are doing,” he lamented.
He faced additional challenges as he had to walk more than half an hour to reach the train station in Horley due to halted train services.
Another passenger, Gabriele Lecce, who intended to fly to Rome, recounted his arrival at the departures area only to be met with chaos:
“Fifteen minutes later, we saw the police coming and they evacuated us – we’re freezing out here,” he stated.
In light of the disruptions, many travelers resorted to making alternative arrangements. Emily Fisher and her friends spent £1,200 on new tickets from Luton Airport after being stranded at Gatwick. She noted:
“We got to [Gatwick] airport at 11:00; there were hundreds of people outside.”
Travel journalist Simon Calder highlighted that approximately 100,000 passengers were scheduled to travel through Gatwick that day, with half expected in the South Terminal alone.
As operations resumed, some passengers expressed a sense of cautious optimism while boarding shuttle trains back to the terminal. Alaia, an 18-year-old trying to return home to Barcelona, remarked:
“Until we’re on the plane, we can’t relax."
With travel gradually returning to normalcy at Gatwick Airport, passengers are advised to check their flight statuses directly with airlines.
As aviation continues to face challenges in safety and efficiency post-pandemic, incidents like this serve as a reminder of the ongoing need for preparedness in public transport facilities.
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