Hot air balloon disrupts Gatwick flights

Flights were temporarily disrupted this morning after a hot air balloon flew into UK airspace.

A spokeswoman for Gatwick Airport in West Sussex said all departures were temporarily suspended just after 9am for safety reasons when the hot air balloon was spotted, although she did not know where it had been located.

Only five departing flights were disrupted during the delay while the air balloon moved away, the spokeswoman added.

She said the planes were lining up on the runway and waiting to take off by 9.20am.

She said: "The airport is not closed and arrival flights are still landing, but departing flights were suspended for safety reasons."

PA