Drivers heading to Gatwick Airport are facing major delays on the M23 this afternoon after a stranded vehicle brought traffic to a standstill near the airport.
The disruption is affecting the southbound route toward Gatwick, with long queues building as the incident unfolds.
This is a developing story — follow live updates below.
What we know so far
A vehicle has become stranded on the M23 near Gatwick Airport, causing what is being described as major traffic chaos on the approach to one of the country’s busiest airports. The incident is affecting southbound traffic heading toward the airport terminals.
The live blog covering the disruption has just begun, with further updates expected as the situation develops and recovery work gets under way.
Why this matters for airport passengers
The M23 is the main road artery serving Gatwick Airport, funnelling passengers, staff and freight from London and the M25 down to the terminals in West Sussex. When something goes wrong on this relatively short stretch of motorway, there are few good alternatives — the parallel A23 runs close by but was never designed to absorb motorway volumes, and at peak times it clogs quickly.
For anyone with a flight to catch this afternoon, the advice is the same as it always is when the M23 seizes up: leave far earlier than you think you need to, check live traffic before setting off, and have a backup plan. The Gatwick Express from London Victoria and Thameslink services from London Bridge and St Pancras both serve the airport and are unaffected by road disruption — and with the M25 also suffering major delays today, the train is looking like the smart option.
Airlines generally advise arriving at Gatwick two to three hours before a short-haul departure and three hours for long-haul. On a day like this, adding an extra hour to the journey is not paranoia — it is prudence. Missing a flight because of a stranded vehicle on the M23 is the kind of story nobody wants to tell.
A difficult day on the roads
The M23 disruption caps a miserable day for drivers in and around the capital. This morning brought major delays on the M25 clockwise after crashes at the Swanley and Wisley interchanges and a broken-down vehicle at Junction 12, while Harrow Road in Wembley was shut in both directions after a building fire, with buses diverted and queues building across north-west London.
Three separate live blogs, three separate incidents, one very congested day. If there was ever a morning to check the traffic before leaving the house, this was it.
If you’re caught in the queue
Being stuck in motorway traffic with a flight to catch is one of the more stressful combinations in modern travel. A few practical points: keep the engine off if you are stationary for long periods, stay in your vehicle unless directed otherwise, and resist the temptation to use the hard shoulder — it is for emergency vehicles, and blocking it can delay the very recovery crews trying to clear the road ahead of you.
Most airlines have cut-off times for check-in and bag drop that are absolute — typically 40 to 60 minutes before departure for short-haul. If the delay means you will miss those, contact your airline as early as possible; rebooking options are always better the sooner you ask. Travel insurance may cover missed departures caused by road disruption, but policies vary — check the fine print rather than assuming.
What happens next
Stranded vehicles on motorways are usually dealt with by National Highways traffic officers, who can close lanes, set up rolling roadblocks and arrange recovery. How long the disruption lasts depends on what has stranded the vehicle — a simple breakdown can be cleared relatively quickly, while anything involving a collision, spilled fuel or a vehicle that cannot be moved takes considerably longer.
We will update this live blog as recovery progresses and the queues begin to clear. Drivers are advised to avoid the area if possible and to follow National Highways’ live updates for the latest information.
