Chaos at Gatwick Airport as South Terminal is evacuated while authorities investigate 'security incident'
Passengers have been left furious as they face cancellations and delays after four hours of evacuation chaos.
Raging passengers condemned the events as 'absolute chaos', saying they were 'disappointed' and 'tired' after being held in suspense for hours. Peter Slater, the company's CEO, said: 'With Gatwick Airport on security alert and severe weather expected this week, the risk of a travel disruption disaster feels imminent.
Police did not elaborate further on the nature of the discovery - but are understood not to be linking the incident to an earlier bomb scare at the US Embassy in London. depart from Gatwick Airport today - more than 60,600 seats. A further 318 flights of 61,400 seats were scheduled to arrive. 'Every possible precaution is put in and the overriding factor is the safety of the public, airport staff and security staff.'
Passengers traipse along a footpath from the South Terminal at Gatwick to the North as the incident unfolded 'There are police, necessary outside agencies, the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, the MOD need to be informed if EOD is going in, and the relevant ministerial department in Whitehall.'That this is happening while moving passengers to the other terminal to make sure flights can keep coming in and out, it is remarkable.
Thousands of passengers were seen outside the terminal and the surrounding area in videos posted online after the terminal shut for several hours. Denice Sealy, who was travelling to Malta for her birthday, was in the security line but was told to turn around and go outside. Passengers and staff run for the exits at Gatwick airport as it was evacuated earlier todayThose who were 'airside' were sent to Gate 31 at the farthest possible edge of the airport for safety instead
Patricia Lima, from Brazil, who was due to fly to the US following a holiday in the UK, was among passengers at London Victoria struggling to reach the airport. Italian Wizz Air passenger Serena Danna said she was 'locked in the plane' after her flight landed. She was later transferred to the other building.Mr Betts, from West Morley in Kent, told MailOnline: 'We were meant to be taking off at 12.30. We were just about to go through security at 10.30am when they closed the security checks area and took us outside. They said it was a complete evacuation.
Passengers filter their way down the stairs, urged on by police officers, as Gatwick Airport is evacuated 'Even people through security are being taken outside. Trains shut down and 1000's of all over the streets and carparks waiting.'
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