Flights in and out of Gatwick have been suspended after a plane made an emergency landing due to a "technical issue".
The Virgin Atlantic flight had left Gatwick bound for Orlando when it had to return to make the landing, which the airline said had been taken as a "precautionary measure."
A Gatwick Airport spokeswoman said: "It has made a safe emergency landing, the emergency services are on the scene and the aircraft is safe and passengers are being disembarked.
"Because the aircraft is on the runway all flights in and out of Gatwick are suspended until further notice."
Virgin Atlantic confirmed that flight VS27 from Gatwick to Orlando, which had 13 crew and 299 passengers on board, had returned to the airport and been evacuated.
"Our teams at Gatwick are now looking after our passengers and assisting with their immediate requirements." the airline said in a statement, adding that "the safety and welfare of our crew and passengers is Virgin Atlantic's top priority."
A Gatwick spokeswoman said the passengers involved were being looked after in a specially set-up reception area at the airport.
Some incoming flights have been diverted, with some now landing at Stansted Airport in Essex instead.
It was not known just how long it would be before the plane could be moved from the runway and normal take-offs and landings could resume.