Flights arriving at Gatwick Airport were diverted this afternoon after a suspected drone caused it to close its airfield for around 30 minutes. 

Departures were delayed and five arrival planes were diverted to nearby airports after a suspected drone was sighted by a pilot. 

The incident comes four years after hundreds of flights were cancelled before Christmas after drone sightings were reported near the airport across a three-day period. 

In total, 140,000 passengers were affected in what was the biggest shutdown of Gatwick airport since the volcanic ash cloud in 2010.

Responding to the incident today, a Gatwick airport spokesperson said: “Passenger safety is the airport’s absolute priority and – following established procedures - operations at London Gatwick were suspended temporarily at 1344, while investigations into the sighting of a suspected drone close to the airfield took place.

 “These investigations have now completed and the airfield reopened at after two.  Five inbound aircraft were diverted to other airports during the investigation, however we expect these will return to London Gatwick shortly.”