Gatwick Airport reopens following evacuation this morning
The South Terminal at London Gatwick Airport (LGW) was evacuated this morning after a suspicious item was found in a piece of luggage.
The evacuation took place at 10:55 a.m. GMT. According to reports, the suspicious baggage was discovered at around 8 a.m. GMT. The situation has now been resolved, and passengers are being allowed back into the airport's South Terminal.
"The earlier security alert has now been resolved and cleared by police. The South Terminal is reopening to staff and will be open to passengers shortly," a London Gatwick spokesperson said.
"Trains will also start calling at Gatwick Airport once the terminal is fully reopened," the spokesperson continued. "We would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while this situation was resolved. Safety and security is always our top priority. There are some delays and cancellations; passengers should contact their airline for any updates on flights."
Sussex Police confirmed that officers were called to the South Terminal at 8:20 a.m. GMT, wherein a bomb disposal team was deployed as a precaution.
The airport advises passengers to contact their airline for further information regarding their scheduled flights.
Despite the evacuation, a Gatwick spokesperson confirmed to TPG that the airport remained operational during the investigation, with incoming planes to the airport still able to land. The North Terminal was unaffected.
"To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with," said Sussex Police in a statement issued on its website this morning. "As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport."
Rail services calling at Gatwick Airport were paused while the police investigated, affecting Southern Rail, Thameslink and Gatwick Express services. Trains are now once again running. Some roads around the South Terminal were also closed and are now in the process of reopening.
There are 316 flights scheduled to depart LGW today, with a further 318 flights scheduled to arrive, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.
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