London City Airport in the UK has been shut down after a World War Two (WW2) bomb was discovered in the river Thames’ King George V Dock, which is situated close to the airport’s runway.

Discovery of the 500kg ordnance was made on Sunday during scheduled work at the dock.

It has led to the cancellation of all the flights on Monday, impacting nearly 16,000 passengers, reported the BBC.

Some of the airlines, including CityJet and Alitalia, have diverted their flights to other airports.

“The airport authorities are currently assisting the Met Police and Royal Navy to safely remove the bomb in a 214m exclusion zone set up by the police.”

The airport’s website has mentioned that a total of 261 arrivals and departures had been listed for Monday.

Responding to the inconvenience caused to the passengers, London City Airport CEO Robert Sinclair said: “The airport remains closed this morning following the discovery of a World War Two ordnance in King George V Dock on Sunday.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

“All flights in and out of London City on Monday are cancelled and an exclusion zone is in place in the immediate area.

“I urge any passengers due to fly today not to come to the airport and to contact their airline for further information.”

The airport authorities are currently assisting the Met Police and Royal Navy to safely remove the bomb in a 214m exclusion zone set up by the police.

Local residents have also been affected by the discovery, with families in the area being evacuated.