Heathrow halts take-offs and landings due to plane blocking runway

19 February 2020, 10:06

Flights were halted on Wednesday morning
Flights were halted on Wednesday morning. Picture: PA
EJ Ward

By EJ Ward

A runway at Heathrow Airport was blocked this morning with no planes taking off or landing and some social media users claiming "Public Health England" officials were keeping passengers on board.

One social media user said: "My parents have just landed at Heathrow and Public Health England aren’t allowing them to get off the plane!"

While BBC Journalist Helena Wilkinson tweeted: "At Heathrow airport - my flight delayed - reading reports take-offs have been halted ... not sure if accurate but don’t know what’s going on".

Aviation enthusiasts said one flight BA188 had circled the airport twice instead of landing.

A spokesperson for Heathrow Airport said: “For a matter of minutes one of the runways was out of service as an aircraft was towed from the taxiway. Heathrow is now operating as normal.”

LBC News has contacted London Heathrow Airport and Public Health England for comment.

More to follow