Several Flights Diverted From Gatwick Airport After Plane Blocks Runway – Check Diverted Flights, Current Status, Passenger Advisory Amid Travel Disruptions & More

London Gatwick Airport has reopened its main runway and normal flight operations have resumed following a temporary closure in the early hours of Wednesday, July 15, 2026. The disruption occurred after a British Airways Airbus A320 (Flight BA2673) from Palma de Mallorca, Spain, suffered a landing gear/nose-wheel steering technical fault upon landing and became immobilized on the runway around 12:50 AM. 

As the airport operates with a single main runway, the incident blocked all incoming traffic, forcing 14 flights to divert to surrounding hubs. Uniquely, nine incoming flights declared mid-air emergencies (squawking code 7700) simultaneously due to dangerously low fuel reserves after being held in circling patterns.

Gatwick Airport Latest Update: List of Diverted Flights & Origins

Fourteen aircraft from prominent holiday destinations across Europe and North Africa were forced to reroute to alternate UK airports. Flight Origins Affected are: 

• Tenerife

• Lanzarote

• Fuerteventura

• Valencia 

• Rhodes and Athens (Greece)

• Rome and Bari (Italy)

• Agadir (Morocco)

Gatwick Airport Latest Update: Diversion Locations

• London Luton: Received 5 flights (including easyJet EZY89LE from Agadir, EZY16VL from Valencia, and EZY24LT from Fuerteventura).

• London Stansted: Received 4 flights (including an easyJet flight from Rome and a TUI flight from Rhodes).

• Birmingham Airport: Received 3 flights.

• Bristol Airport: Received 1 flight.

• London Heathrow: Received 1 flight.

Gatwick Airport Latest Update: Current Status

The disabled British Airways plane was safely towed off the tarmac, allowing the runway to reopen at approximately 1:30 AM. While the runway is open and operational, a knock-on backlog means that some passengers may still encounter residual delays, schedule modifications, or gate changes throughout Wednesday.

Gatwick Airport Latest Update: Passenger Advisory & Rights

• Check Flight Status: Passengers scheduled to fly out of or arrive at Gatwick today are strongly advised to check their real-time flight status directly with their airline or via the London Gatwick Airport Live Flight Board before travelling to the terminal.

• Onward Travel: If you were on a diverted flight (e.g., stuck at Stansted or Luton), coordinate directly with your airline’s ground staff. Carriers like British Airways and easyJet are arranging coaches and alternative transport to get passengers back to Gatwick.

• Compensation Rights: Because a technical fault on an aircraft is generally considered within an airline’s control, passengers subjected to long delays or cancellations may be eligible for care (meals/accommodation) and financial compensation under UK passenger rights laws (UK261). 

London Gatwick Airport has resumed normal operations following a brief runway closure caused by an immobilized British Airways aircraft. 

Although the immediate issue was resolved within an hour, the incident resulted in 14 flight diversions and minor, ongoing logistical disruptions. Passengers should check for lingering schedule adjustments.