London City Airport shut: Flights cancelled after WWII bomb found in River Thames dock

Airplanes are parked at London City Airport in London which is closed all day due to a WWII unexploded bomb. Photo / AP

London City Airport has been closed after an unexploded World War II bomb was found in the nearby River Thames, affecting tens of thousands of passengers.

All flights in and out of the airport, in east London, were stopped on Monday (UK time), affecting up to 16,000 passengers, according to a spokeswoman.

More than 100 departures were cancelled.

Workers found the device at the George V Dock at 5am on Sunday.

Newham Council said the German 500kg fused bomb would not be cleared until at least Tuesday.

The Metropolitan Police said the airport closed at 10pm, as officers worked with the Royal Navy to remove the bomb.

A 214m exclusion zone was put in place on Sunday evening to ensure the device could be dealt with safely.

People inside the zone were evacuated from their homes overnight, and road cordons are in place in Newham.

Passengers were urged not to travel to the airport on Monday and advised to contact their airline.

Docklands Light Railway services between Pontoon Dock and Woolwich Arsenal have been suspended.

Following the discovery of a World War Two ordnance in King George V Dock as part of planned development works, a 214m exclusion zone has been implemented as a precaution by the Met Police. As a result, London City Airport is currently closed. (1/3)

— London City Airport (@LondonCityAir) February 11, 2018

All passengers due to travel from London City on Monday are advised to contact their airline for further information. Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport until further notice.(2/3)

— London City Airport (@LondonCityAir) February 11, 2018

The airport is cooperating fully with the Met Police, Royal Navy and London Borough of Newham (3/3) https://t.co/9ZD3jDFdOw

— London City Airport (@LondonCityAir) February 11, 2018

Specialist officers were working with the Royal Navy to remove the bomb, the Metropolitan Police said.

London City Airport is the 14th busiest in the UK with 4,540,000 passengers in 2017, according to data from the Civil Aviation Authority.