Planes grounded at Gatwick after aircraft stuck on runway

Flights at Gatwick Airport were brought to a standstill for nearly an hour after a plane became stuck on the runway.

A Gatwick spokesperson said the runway was closed for 50 minutes on Friday afternoon because of a "technical issue with a departing vehicle".

The airport said the plane was towed away from the runway, which "reopened shortly afterwards following a full safety inspection".

"As always, safety and security is our number one priority," the spokesperson said.

Arrivals at the West Sussex airport on Friday afternoon were showing some delays, ranging from 20 minutes to two hours.

Many departures, including those to major European tourist destinations, were also running behind schedule.

Travellers can check Gatwick's official website for more information.

Tracking website Flightradar24 showed just after 21:30 BST on Friday that 90% of flights were delayed, with 8% cancelled.

It listed an average delay time of 71 minutes.

Some flights were diverted earlier on Friday to other airports including London Stansted and Birmingham.

"While the runway at Gatwick is thankfully back up and running after earlier disruption, many passengers now find themselves displaced after some flights were forced to land at alternative airports," said Which?.

"If your flight was diverted as a result of the runway closure, your airline is responsible for ensuring you still reach the final destination on your ticket.

"Depending on how long you're delayed, [they] should provide food and drink or even accommodation if necessary," it added.

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