EasyJet passengers waited over two hours on tarmac at Stansted after diversion

Passengers on an EasyJet flight from Rome remained on the aircraft for more than two hours after it landed at Stansted Airport early on Wednesday morning. The plane had been diverted from Gatwick following a temporary runway closure caused by a British Airways aircraft experiencing a landing gear issue.

The airline stated that no ground handling staff were available for the unscheduled arrival, preventing refuelling and delaying disembarkation until after 03:00. Passengers were advised they would be reimbursed for onward travel costs.

Diversion and ground handling An aviation source told the BBC that the aircraft may have needed to land urgently due to low fuel after circling Gatwick. The source noted that EasyJet has no base or ground handling arrangement at Stansted, which complicated efforts to arrange deboarding and refuelling.

The airline said it worked to make onward arrangements for customers while the aircraft remained on the tarmac. Some passengers waited for baggage retrieval that was also delayed by the lack of staff.

Gatwick runway closure A London Gatwick spokesperson said the runway was closed for a short period due to a technical issue with the British Airways aircraft. Emergency services attended as a precaution, and the plane landed safely with passengers disembarking normally.

A small number of flights were diverted as a result, with most later returning to Gatwick. The airport said safety and security remained its top priority. The airline apologised for the inconvenience caused by the diversion and the delay in disembarking.