Gatwick Airport has reassured travellers after a retired firefighter claimed cuts to local fire and rescue services are putting Gatwick passengers at risk.
Tony Morris, who was operational planning office for the West Sussex fire service, claims council cuts have severely reduced the survival chances for passengers and crew in the event of a crash at Gatwick.
In his latest online blog, he says: "Not only have the cuts put 800,000 residents in greater danger, but millions of passengers who use the airport each year will be doubly unlucky if they are in a crash at Gatwick.
"We all hope we are not involved in an aircraft crash, but there are several around the world every year. When it happens, we rely on the emergency services arriving quickly to rescue survivors from the wreckage. Sadly the response from West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service is now slower and smaller than ever, despite aircraft now carrying more people."
Although Morris does not blame the airport for the cuts, he criticised airport chiefs for failing to raise objections to them.
Since the cutbacks, less than 50 firefighters would arrive at an emergency at Gatwick, compared with 90 before.
Morris pointed to the Kegworth crash in 1989, when a British Midland flight, attempting an emergency landing at East Midlands Airport, crashed into the embankment of the M1 motorway in Leicestershire.
He said over 100 hundred firefighters were needed to rescue the 82 injured survivors, which highlights the risks to passengers at Gatwick, particularly those on the A380 which can carry up to 550.
But a Gatwick Airport spokesperson said the airport was fully prepared.
"Passenger safety is our priority and Gatwick has its own on-airport fire service that is fully equipped and resourced to deal with major incidents."
