A swarm of bees caused an unusual six-hour disruption at London Gatwick Airport after taking over a departure gate, prompting emergency action from local beekeepers.
The incident occurred on Sunday, April 26, at gate 176R, where dozens of bees gathered inside a piece of electrical equipment, forcing the gate to be taken out of service temporarily.
Despite the unexpected situation at Britain’s second busiest airport, no flights were affected as no arrivals or departures were scheduled at the impacted gate during the incident. Adjacent gates continued operating as normal.
Beekeepers from the Reigate Beekeepers Association were called in to handle the situation, spending around six hours carefully removing the swarm.
One beekeeper, Gerry James, described the experience as both intense and enjoyable, noting that airport call-outs for bee swarms occur several times a year.
He said the operation required careful handling under time pressure, as the gate needed to be cleared without affecting airport operations.
Gatwick Airport staff and the beekeepers worked closely together during the incident, with officials praising the swift response and coordination.
The bees were eventually safely relocated using a portable “nuc box,” a small transport hive designed to house swarms temporarily.
According to the beekeepers’ association, the relocated swarm will now be kept at one of their training apiaries for educational purposes.
A Gatwick spokesperson confirmed that the bees were safely removed and described them as “safe and happy” following the relocation.
Experts say bee swarms are common during spring and early summer as colonies search for new nesting sites, often clustering on nearby structures while the queen is unable to travel far.
Reigate Beekeepers added that they have assisted Gatwick Airport with similar incidents over several years, responding to swarms appearing at various locations across the airport site.
