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Gatwick Airport's south terminal has been plunged into chaos this morning following the discovery of a suspicious package in a passenger's luggage.
Airport bosses began probing a piece of baggage shortly after 8am on Friday before ordering passengers to leave.
Eyewitnesses said even passengers who were going through security were being evacuated from the airport, near Crawley in West Sussex.
Those who made it 'airside' were taken to Gate 31, at the furthest reaches of the terminal, for safety.
Sussex Police said it had been called to the South Terminal at 8.20am following the discovery of 'suspected prohibited item in luggage'.
A bomb squad has been deployed to the busy terminal as a 'precaution'.
Police did not elaborate further on the nature of the discovery - but are understood not to be linking the incident to an earlier bomb scare at the US Embassy in London.
The incident has caused massive disruption to outbound and inbound flights, while train and bus services are not stopping at the airport. Meanwhile, the monorail station at the North Terminal connecting to the South is packed with people.
Spanish airline Vueling turned planes back towards their original destinations, while other flights were pushed back because there are no passengers to fly.
According to aviation analytics website Cirium, 316 flights were scheduled to depart from Gatwick Airport today - more than 60,600 seats. A further 318 flights of 61,400 seats were scheduled to arrive.
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Passengers evacuating Gatwick Airport on Friday morning after police were called to reports of a suspected prohibited item of luggage
Passengers in foil blankets stand outside Gatwick's South Terminal on Friday after a suspect piece of baggage sparked a security alert
Passengers traipse along a footpath from the South Terminal at Gatwick to the North, where they hope for onward travel as the incident continues
An armed police officer on the road close to Gatwick Airport. Local roads have been closed and buses cannot stop at the terminal
Passengers stand outside Gatwick Airport's South Terminal in the freezing cold following the security alert
Traffic jams on the M23 close to Gatwick Airport. Roads have been closed around the terminal
Gatwick Airport issued a statement on X warning that a 'security incident' had been reported
Spanish airline Vueling turned a Gatwick-bound flight from Barcelona back towards the Spanish coast after the airport was evacuated
Local transport services are avoiding the area as traffic gathers on the M23's slip roads a mile away from the terminal. Gatwick Express services will not stop at the station until 2pm at the earliest.
In the meantime, passengers wrapped in foil blankets have been seen being loaded onto buses to be transported to the North Terminal. Others have been forced to walk on a footpath parallel to the monorail.
Eyewitnesses told MailOnline they had seen police with 'explosive' patches on their jackets and sniffer dogs entering the terminal.
One passenger told a MailOnline reporter: 'Nothing much is happening here. The passengers know nothing.'
Gatwick Airport said in a statement on X: 'A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident.
'Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing.
'Safety and security of our passengers and staff remains our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.'
Police said the discovery of the package, understood to be in the security screening area of the South Terminal, necessitated the creation of a cordon for the safety of passengers and staff.
Video shared on social media showed scores of passengers walking outside the terminal as security staff probed the incident.
Travellers were handed water bottles and foil blankets as they waited in the cold for further news.
Those who were on planes bound for the South Terminal faced a wait as airport bosses figured out what to do with them. Many have since been transported to the North Terminal for onward travel.
Italian Wizz Air passenger Serena Danna said she was 'locked in the plane' after her flight landed. She was later transferred to the other building.
Passengers and staff run for the exits at Gatwick airport as it is evacuated following reports of suspected prohibited luggage
Passengers hope for good news as they check for the latest updates on their flights
Armed police directing traffic at a roundabout close to Gatwick Airport. Roads have been closed in and out of the area
Those who were 'airside' were sent to Gate 31 at the farthest possible edge of the airport for safety instead
Passengers were seen wrapped up in foil blankets handed out by Gatwick staff as they waited out the security alert in the cold
Passengers outside Gatwick's South Terminal after the evacuation on Friday morning at around 10.30am
Passenger Andy Betts, 50, was meant to be heading off for a long weekend in Rome with his family.
Mr Betts, from West Morley in Kent, told MailOnline: 'We were meant to be taking off at 12.30. We were just about to go through security at 10.30am when they closed the security checks area and took us outside. They said it was a complete evacuation.'
He said some airport staff had since gone back inside - along with police bearing 'explosive' patches on their jackets. Two of the officers had sniffer dogs.
'Gatwick has brought out some water for us - when the sun's out it's alright,' he added optimistically.
'We saw police with 'explosive' on their jacket go in - two of them had sniffer dogs. It's just one of these things, isn't it.'
Taya Willis, 30, was due to fly to Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, for a weekend break at 11.25am this morning.
The teacher from Merton, London, said she saw people 'running' after the evacuation was ordered
'I was there for about 20 minutes and then was suddenly told my a member of staff that everyone had to leave as the terminal was being evacuated, it's very scary.
'No one can leave or come out. Lots of people were running, all the shops have been closed up.
'It looks like Covid again. Everything is just deserted - I've never seen anything like it.'
Armed police at the entrance to the departures area at Gatwick Airport's South Terminal (left) after passengers were told to evacuate (right)
Passengers filter their way down the stairs, urged on by police officers, as Gatwick Airport is evacuated
Passengers outside Gatwick's south terminal after a suspected prohibited item was discovered in luggage
Gatwick Express is running services but they will not stop at the station 'until further notice'
Another said he got through customs until he was then ordered to leave the terminal.
He wrote on X: 'Arrived at London Gatwick for routine connection. Got through customs to find out they're evacuating the entire airport.
'Even people through security are being taken outside. Trains shut down and 1000's of all over the streets and carparks waiting.'
Cambridge passenger Jon Hunt, who had been due to fly to Florida, told the BBC: 'We were guided downstairs, nobody told us why. We were waiting for about 20 minutes on the check-in floor before someone said everyone here has to leave.
'There are now hundreds of people standing in the cold not knowing what's going on.'
Armed police were pictured inside the airport guarding the entrance to the Departures area, which has been blocked with a large shutter.
Spanish airline Vueling turned two planes around - but other flights continued to land at the airport as normal during the security alert.
The airline Norwegian confirmed to MailOnline its services were landing at the South Terminal as planned, before passengers were then bussed to the North Terminal to continue their journeys.
A spokesperson said: 'The airport is transporting passengers from the aircraft to the northern terminal via bus.'
Live departure data suggests many flights scheduled to take off around the time the suspect luggage was discovered were able to do so following a delay that ranged from half an hour to upwards of 90 minutes.
Others have now been delayed by at least three hours, according to Gatwick Airport data.
Passengers are stuck out in the cold as the Gatwick Airport suspicious luggage investigation continues
Police say they were called to the airport at 8.20am and have sent in a bomb squad as a precaution
British Airways, which has several flights in and out of the terminal affected today, said: 'Like other airlines, we are experiencing some disruption to our flight schedule at Gatwick due to a security incident at the airport’s South Terminal.
'We are in contact with affected customers and giving them updates as and when we can. We’re also providing them with options including flight rebookings and hotel accommodation where necessary.'
In a statement, easyJet said its North Terminal flights were flying as normal - while those whose flights have been affected are urged to get in touch.
It said: 'Whilst the majority of our flying is at the North Terminal where our schedule is operating normally, we are advising customers travelling to and from the airport today to check our flight tracker and with National Rail for the latest information about their journey to and from the airport, or plan an alternative route.
'Anyone travelling to or from London Gatwick South Terminal today whose plans have been affected by the terminal evacuation can contact our customer service team for assistance with their options.'
Trains and buses to Gatwick have been suspended while the incident is ongoing.
The Gatwick Express X account told passengers: 'Gatwick Airport will not be served until further notice.
'This is due to the Police and emergency services dealing with an incident at the airport. Trains cannot call at Gatwick Airport until further notice.
'Thameslink, Southern and Gatwick Express trains can still run through the area, but will NOT be stopping at Gatwick Airport.'
A Sussex Police spokesperson said: 'Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20am on Friday (22 November) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage.
'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.
'As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport.
'This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We'd advise the public to avoid the area where possible.'
The North Terminal is continuing to operate as normal, airport staff told social media users via X.
Gatwick is Britain's second busiest airport, serving approximately 41 million passengers a year.
The Gatwick evacuation came after a controlled explosion was carried out at the US Embassy in Nine Elms. No link has been established between the two incidents
A police cordon near the US Embassy in Nine Elms, London, where Metropolitan Police officers carried out a 'controlled explosion' after reports of a suspicious package
Another alleged bomb scare came at Glasgow's Buchanan Bus Station, where EOD officers were deployed to carry out a controlled explosion on Wednesday
It came after a controlled explosion was carried out at the US Embassy in London earlier today. No link has been established between the incidents.
Witnesses said roads around the embassy were closed to traffic and armed police officers and the fire service are at the scene in Nine Elms.
A 'loud bang' was reported in the area shortly after a cordon was put into place.
The Met confirmed this was a 'controlled explosion' as part of their investigation.
A spokesperson for the Met Police said of the embassy incident: 'We're aware of speculation online about an incident in the vicinity of the US Embassy in Nine Elms.
'Cordons are in place in the area as a precaution while officers investigate a suspect package.
'We can confirm that the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers.
'Enquiries are still ongoing and cordons will remain in place for the time being.'
And that followed an alleged bomb scare at Glasgow's Buchanan Bus Station on Wednesday. Police were called at 1.10pm and a controlled explosion was carried out.
Train services were halted while performances at the adjacent Royal Concert Hall were cancelled and the nearby Glasgow Caledonian University was evacuated.
Three men have since been arrested in connection with the possession of offensive weapons.
