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The south terminal of Londonâ€s Gatwick airport has been evacuated following the discovery of a suspected banned item.
The British Armyâ€s Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit was deployed on Friday morning after the item was found in a passengerâ€s luggage.
“The south terminal remains closed as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident,†Gatwick said.
The response is standard procedure during such security scares, but caused significant disruption to passengers on Friday.
Flights at the airport were not grounded but delays built up, with passengers unable to check in for several hours after the full evacuation of the south terminal, which began around 11am.
On Friday afternoon, Gatwick airport said that the security alert had “now been resolved and cleared by police†and that the south terminal would be reopening shortly.
Flights to and from the north terminal were unaffected.
Gatwick is the UKâ€s second-busiest airport, with 634 flights scheduled on Friday, according to aviation data provider Cirium.
Sussex Police said they were called to the airport at 8.20am following the discovery of a “suspected prohibited itemâ€.
“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,†the force said.
“This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the south terminal have been closed,†it added. “Weâ€d advise the public to avoid the area where possible.â€
Passengers reported confusion around the evacuation.
Afiya Rufaro, who had been due to fly to Bilbao on a 1pm flight, said passengers had been told to leave the terminal but were given very little information by airport staff.
Everyone was stood around outside, “angry and coldâ€, she said.
“We took ages to leave the terminal and didnâ€t know where to go,†she added. “No information has been given via screens or megaphone for over an hour now.â€
Separately, Londonâ€s Metropolitan Police said on Friday it had carried out a controlled explosion on a suspicious package near the US embassy in south London.
The Met said: “Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow.â€
