Passengers were stranded on an Air India aircraft at Gatwick for more than eight hours after heavy fog caused the flight to be diverted.
The aircraft flying from Mumbai to Heathrow was forced to divert to Gatwick at about 8am on Saturday. But it could not resume its journey until 5pm, arriving at Heathrow just 20 minutes later.
Sussex Police were called to the flight to prevent a breach of the peace as tempers among passengers flared.
A Gatwick spokesman said the airline had to wait for a crew before the aircraft could complete its journey.
A BBC World Service reporter on board said the mood among passengers became heated.
He said he did not know why the passengers were prevented from disembarking the aircraft.
One passenger reportedly said: “I don’t understand why we were diverted then not allowed to leave. I felt I was already home, I was in London, I didn’t mind the extra hassle of coming from Gatwick into London.”
Air India was unavailable for comment.