Originally Posted by
Jenbel
I could be wrong, but I think most aircraft would find it hard to get from the approach to LHR to Manston or Hurn without avionics or power (if that was indeed the problem)
Didn't ever think it was Hurn - I worked there for 15 or so years from 1980 and it never was a specifically preferred emergency airport in that time. Don't think it was post 1995 either. Manston - yes and one reason was it has a very long and particularly wide runway.
Stansted used to be a preferred diversion for emergency landings but not sure it is since it became a major London airport. It used to be mainly cargo then.
BOH (Hurn) is used as a diversionary airport for LHR and LGW during fog though - along with many others of course.