Several flights were diverted after the plane blocked Gatwick’s runway.

Several flights have been diverted from Gatwick Airport after a plane temporarily blocked one of the runways.

Emergency services were on alert as a British Airways plane landed, following a “technical fault” with the plane.

One of the diverted planes, an already delayed EasyJet flight from Rome to Gatwick, had to land at Stansted Airport instead – and was stuck there because it couldn’t get fuel.

Passengers were left on that plane for more than two hours before disembarking at midnight.

A BA plane that has temporarily closed the runway at Gatwick Airport has reportedly experienced a problem with its landing gear. BA said the plane landed safely and passengers disembarked normally.

A spokesman for London Gatwick said: “Due to a technical problem with an aircraft this morning, the runway was briefly closed.

“As a result, a small number of flights have been diverted and the majority have returned to London Gatwick. As always, safety and security are our top priority.”

There were a number of delays to and from Gatwick Airport on Wednesday, although it was unclear whether these were related to the earlier airport closures.