Passengers were left stuck on planes after an airliner experienced a "technical issue" on approach to an international airport.

People set to leave their planes at Gatwick Airport on Sunday evening were told to stay put while a British Airways plane was diverted.

The Argus: Runway 28L at Gatwick AirportRunway 28L at Gatwick Airport (Image: .)

A witness reported seeing "about seven" blue lights to the east of the airport, near the start of runway 26L.

A passenger, about to disembark his Vueling flight from Malaga, said: "The pilot made an announcement to say the landing halted all Gatwick operations.

"They wouldn't put the jetbridge on our plane, and we were delayed by 15 minutes when getting off the flight."

The passenger had been  due to land at the airport at 6.55pm on Sunday evening.

A British Airways Embraer 190, from Zurich, was set to land at London City Airport at 6.45pm.

However, it diverted to Gatwick Airport after declaring a a "minor technical issue."

It circled in a holding pattern around 8000 feet above Heathfield at 6.50pm before making a "priority landing" at Gatwick.

Landings such as this can happen for all manner of reasons, from burst tyres to hot brakes, which may require the use of a longer runway.

Most of these landings go without a hitch and many of the passengers onboard may not even feel a difference when they land.

Gatwick has a runway length of 3,316 metres, compared to London City Airport's 1,508 metre-long runway, which is surrounded by water at either end.

The Argus: A plane similar to that involved in the incidentA plane similar to that involved in the incident (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

The Embraer 190 is used by British Airways on routes between London City Airport and other European cities.

It can hold up to 98 passengers on board.

A spokesman for British Airways said: "Our pilots requested a priority landing at Gatwick as a precaution due to a minor technical issue, and the aircraft landed normally."

Gatwick Airport has been approached for comment.