Gatwick Runway Chaos: Boeing Aborts Take-Off Amid Safety Scare
A Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner owned by Norse Atlantic Airways aborted its take-off on runway 26L at Gatwick Airport in the UK on September 4, around 2pm. The aircraft was headed to New York's JFK airport but rejected its take-off roll due to a nose gear fault.
The pilots managed to stop the plane before reaching flying speed, and emergency vehicles were sent as a precaution. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew on board.
Gatwick Airport declared an immediate ground stop after the incident, holding all departures including flights to Spain. EasyJet, which operates more routes out of Gatwick than any other airline, had several flights diverted to London Luton and Stansted while the runway was shut.
The Boeing 787-9 was towed off the runway after a 50-minute closure, and normal flight operations resumed six minutes later. The airport's spokesperson confirmed that safety and security is their 'number one priority', adding that they conducted a full safety inspection before reopening the runway.