Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
04 July 2017 06:35
A number of easyJet flights had to be diverted after a drone flew too close to the runway at Gatwick
Gatwick Airport was forced to close a runway after reports of a drone flying too close to the airfield.
Budget airline easyJet was among those caught up in the disruption on Sunday night, with four flights having to be diverted during the runway closure.
British Airways also had to divert one of its flights.
The incident is a reminder of the importance of taking out travel insurance for peace of mind in the event of unforeseen circumstances.
Drone observation
A Gatwick Airport spokesman said: "Due to reports of a drone observation in the vicinity of the airfield, runway operations at Gatwick were suspended between 18:10 BST and 1819, and again from 1836 to 1841, resulting in a small number of go-arounds and diverts.
"Operations have resumed and the police continue to investigate."
Frankie goes to Gatwick
Holly Johnson, formerly the front man of Liverpool band Frankie Goes To Hollywood, was among the passengers on one of the diverted flights.
The musician took to social media to break the news of the drone to his followers.
He wrote on Twitter: "A Drone on the flightpath into Gatwick : our @British_Airways flight diverted to Bournemouth. On the Tarmac waiting ... for an update"
21 September 2018
UK holidaymakers could be missing out on more than 60 direct flight routes thanks to Air Passenger Duty (APD), a report suggests.
[more...]
20 September 2018
Living in areas with high levels of air pollution could be linked to an increased risk of dementia, new research suggests.
19 September 2018
Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients are shelling out tens of thousands of pounds for care - and many are unable to cover the costs, a leading charity has warned.
18 September 2018
As much as £6 of every £10 spent on domestic flights in the UK goes on Air Passenger Duty (APD), new research suggests.
15 September 2018
UK driving licences might become invalid in certain European countries if the UK crashes out of the EU with no deal, the Government has warned.
14 September 2018
Online crowdfunding for cancer treatments is indirectly advancing the rise of alternative "quack" therapies, experts have warned.
13 September 2018
A "wee-stick" like those used in pregnancy testing could be employed to prevent thousands of deaths from ovarian cancer.
11 September 2018
As many as 1.3 million passengers endured severe flight delays in the last year, a new study reveals.
08 September 2018
British Airways customers are cancelling their credit cards after the carrier was hit by a 15-day data breach that compromised the details of around 380,000 people.
06 September 2018
Plastic trays at security desks harbour the highest numbers of viruses at airports, new research has discovered.
05 September 2018
Adults are being urged to take advantage of a new online tool to find out if they are at risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
04 September 2018
Child cancer patients regularly have to travel twice as far and pay out twice as much when getting treatment, new data shows.