Gatwick Airport evacuates South Terminal after suspect package found

On the morning of Friday 22 November, London Gatwick Airport (LGW), the second busiest in the UK had to evacuate its southern Terminal following a ‘suspect package’ being found in luggage. 

An explosive disposal team was sent in as a “precaution”, with flights to and from being cancelled or delayed, with rail services to LGW also suspended. 

“The earlier security alert has now been resolved and cleared by police,” Gatwick said in a statement. “The South Terminal is reopening to staff and will be open to passengers shortly.”

A London Gatwick spokesperson said: “Working closely with Sussex Police, we were able to swiftly address the situation. Evacuating the terminal is not a decision we take lightly, but the safety and security of staff and passengers is always our top priority. We would like to thank all those affected on the day for their patience and understanding, and our teams who supported passengers.”

LGW reopened in the afternoon later that day with Sussex Police reporting that they had made the “Suspect Package” safe and had handed back control to the airport operator around 16:30 GMT.

Sussex Police stated that two people were detained for enquiries but were released and could continue their journeys.