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Gatwick terminal starts to reopen after evacuation Gatwick terminal reopening after security alert
(about 1 hour later)
A large section of a Gatwick Airport terminal was evacuated People were evacuated from Gatwick Airport's South Terminal on Friday morning
Gatwick Airport's South Terminal has reopened to staff and will soon be open for passengers.Gatwick Airport's South Terminal has reopened to staff and will soon be open for passengers.
The South Terminal, one of two at the airport, was evacuated at 10:55 GMT on Friday after a suspected prohibited item was found in a piece of luggage.The South Terminal, one of two at the airport, was evacuated at 10:55 GMT on Friday after a suspected prohibited item was found in a piece of luggage.
Trains will begin calling at Gatwick once the terminal has fully reopened.Trains will begin calling at Gatwick once the terminal has fully reopened.
Passengers are now being warned that their flights could be delayed or cancelled, and that they should check with their airline for updates.Passengers are now being warned that their flights could be delayed or cancelled, and that they should check with their airline for updates.
Sussex Police said an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team had been deployed to the airport as a precaution.
'Waiting with no guarantees'
Laurence Kemball-Cook, who was due to fly Portugal, said he and his family faced delays of up to 90 minutes getting through security.
“We were sitting there waiting for a slightly delayed flight and one of the staff rushes over and says ‘you’ve got to evacuate right now’. So I sprinted down the corridor, picked up my partner and the baby, who were changing, and then they were rushing everyone out the main terminal,” he said.
“We are now waiting with no guarantees of when it’s going to leave.
"I can see the plane but it looks like the whole airport is shut and no-one, none of the police, will say anything to us.”
A security cordon has been put in place at Gatwick's South Terminal
The airport, in West Sussex, said the evacuation was a precaution while it continued to investigate.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing,” the airport spokesperson said.
“We are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Live: Gatwick Airport evacuates terminal following security incident
Railway services will begin to call at Gatwick once the terminal is fully reopened. Thameslink, Southern and Gatwick Express services were affected.
National Highways said there were long delays from junction nine of the M23 on the approach to Gatwick.
Passengers had to leave the airport and wait in near-freezing temperatures outsidePassengers had to leave the airport and wait in near-freezing temperatures outside
Several British Airways departures are delayed by at least one hour and 40 minutes, including flights to Orlando, USA; Funchal, Portugal; and Tenerife, Spain. At about midday, Sussex Police confirmed its explosive ordnance disposal team had been deployed.
Spanish carrier Vueling ordered inbound flights from Barcelona and Seville to turn around and return to their starting airports. Meanwhile, thousands of stranded passengers were still waiting outside the terminal in near-freezing temperatures, with many saying they had no idea what was going on.
And a Norwegian flight to Bergen departed two hours and seven minutes late. "No-one seems to know what they are doing," said John Mather, who flew into the South Terminal from Costa Rica during the closure.
Local bus services have also been affected and were unable to run to Gatwick, according to Southern. "We were then bussed to the North Terminal, where we went through immigration and collected our bags. [We had] no help whatsoever from airport or security staff."
“We've also been advised of local road closures too, so if you are driving to the airport, please be aware of this when planning your journey,” a spokesperson said. Mr Mather was one of many frustrated passengers at the airport
London Victoria railway station is advising those travelling to avoid heading to Gatwick Airport. Mr Mather, who lives in Croydon, said that because the trains were not stopping at Gatwick, he would be forced to walk to the station in Horley - more than half an hour away.
Station announcements and screens are advising the public not to travel towards the area and to wait at Victoria Station. "It's hopeless, I'm stuck here," he said.
The North Terminal is unaffected by the evacuation. Another stranded passenger was Gabriele Lecce, who had been hoping to fly to Rome but was told there was an issue when he arrived at departures.
'Crowds building up' “Fifteen minutes later, we saw the police coming and they evacuated us - we're freezing out here," he told the BBC.
Meanwhile, travel journalist Simon Calder said about 100,000 passengers would be flying in and out of Gatwick Airport today. Many people have been forced to make alternative travel plans, like Emily Fisher and her three friends, who have paid £1,200 for new tickets to Budapest, travelling from Luton Airport instead.
About half of those passengers would be using the South Terminal, he said. Emily Fisher (left) and her friends have paid £1,200 to fly to Budapest from Luton Airport instead
"Flights are still landing. But if they are landing at the South Terminal, people are going to the gate as normal, but then they are not getting out on the air bridge and walking out into international arrivals, they are being put on buses to the North Terminal to be processed there," he said. "We got to [Gatwick] airport at 11:00, there were hundreds of people outside," said Emily.
"That will mean lots of crowds building up, and they can't leave the North Terminal to go to the station.” "They said the terminal was on lockdown but the people at the airport were telling us they didn’t know anything."
Passengers resorted to different methods in a bid to keep their journey going
Travel journalist Simon Calder said about 100,000 passengers were due to fly in and out of Gatwick Airport on Friday - half of those through the South Terminal.
Now, passengers say they are "cautiously optimistic" as they board shuttle trains to the South Terminal.
“Until we’re on the plane, we can’t relax," said Alaia, 18, who is trying to get home to Barcelona.
"I’m worried that so many planes are delayed that some won’t actually take off."
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