Gatwick crash landing

[micky mouse]

I came into gatwick north terminal yesterday from spending christmas in marrakesh and fortuneately for us we were the last plane to land before the virgin atlantic flight crash landed on the runway behind us saw all the emergency services and the helicopter above the plane.Had we had been behind that plane for landing we would have been diverted like all other flights to anywhere in england and that would of been a night mare.The airport was closed to all flights for several hours thankfully everyone on board was safe.

[KKOB]

The old BOAC pilots often used to refer to a successful landing as a "controlled crash".

[kayakebab]

My son was due to land 20 mins later so was diverted to Stanstead where they refused to let anyone off as not enough staff to cope and couldnt sort customs clearance, so 3 hours on the tarmac and then flew to Gatwick.
Amazingly passport control was quick even though they didnt appreciate his 'oh and Stanstead' comment when they asked where he had flown in from.
He finally got home at 11pm, a mere 18 hours after leaving Calis.
Thankfully everyone was safe.
Far from a crash landing though, a superb landing in the circumstances.