London Gatwick runway closed after Boeing 787 aborts takeoff

Operations at London Gatwick Airport were significantly disrupted on Friday, September 4, after a Norse Atlantic Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aborted its takeoff on runway 26L. The aircraft, bound for New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, experienced a technical fault with its nose gear at approximately 120 knots, forcing the crew to reject the takeoff roll.

Because Gatwick's two runways are located too close to be used simultaneously, the airport was forced to implement an immediate ground stop. The runway remained closed for approximately 50 minutes while emergency services and airport personnel worked to tow the disabled aircraft to a remote stand and conduct a safety inspection for debris.

The incident caused widespread delays for hundreds of flights, with some reports indicating over 330 flights were affected by an average delay of 57 minutes. Several incoming flights were diverted to neighboring hubs, including London Luton and London Stansted, contributing to congestion at those airports.