Delays and cancellations at Gatwick as plane bursts tyre on take-off
Gatwick Airport closed its main runway for several hours on Monday after an Air Canada aircraft burst a tyre on take-off.
Flights used Gatwick’s back-up runway after the incident and the airport warned of delays and cancellations, while some flights were re-routed to alternative airports, including Stansted.
At 7.25pm, Gatwick updated its information to say its runway was open, but there would be delays and cancellations for the rest of the evening,
Passengers were advised to check with their airline for the latest flight information.
In an earlier update, at around 3.30pm, Gatwick said: "We apologise as flights for the rest of the day will experience delay and there will be some cancellations. Passengers are advised to speak to their airline for the latest flight information."
The Boeing 767 plane reportedly hit debris on the runway and still managed to take off, but had to dump fuel and head back towards the airport for an emergency landing.
Flights were halted for an hour while inspections were carried out on the runway.
Gatwick issued an earlier statement saying: "An Air Canada Rouge flight to Toronto has returned to Gatwick after experiencing a burst tyre on take-off.
"Following this Gatwick’s runway has been closed since 2.12pm to allow for a runway inspection.
"The current runway closure follows an earlier closure between 1.16pm and 1.45pm when the runway was closed for an inspection after this aircraft departed.
"We apologise as some flights will be delayed as a result and a few arriving flights are likely to be diverted to other airports."
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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