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Drone causes disruption at Gatwick airport Drone causes disruption at Gatwick airport
(35 minutes later)
A drone flying close to Gatwick airport has led to the closure of the runway and forced five flights to be diverted. A drone flying close to Gatwick airport led to the closure of the runway and forced five flights to be diverted.
A spokesman for the airport said the runway was closed for two short periods of nine minutes and five minutes on Sunday evening. An airport spokesman said the runway had been closed for two periods of nine minutes and five minutes on Sunday evening after the drone was sighted.
Easyjet confirmed four of its flights had been diverted, while British Airways said one of its planes had been sent to Bournemouth. Easyjet said four of its flights had been diverted, while British Airways said one plane had been sent to Bournemouth. Other flights had to circle the airport as a precaution.
Sussex Police are investigating the incident. Sussex Police are investigating.
Other flights had to circle above the airport as a precaution. The airport said: "Runway operations at Gatwick were suspended between 18:10 BST and 1819, and again from 1836 to 1841, resulting in a small number of go-arounds and diverts.
A statement from the airport said: "Due to reports of a drone observation in the vicinity of the airfield, runway operations at Gatwick were suspended between 18:10 BST and 1819, and again from 1836 to 1841, resulting in a small number of go-arounds and diverts.
"Operations have resumed and the police continue to investigate.""Operations have resumed and the police continue to investigate."
'Lots of babies' Channel circles
Passengers have told the BBC they were diverted mid-flight. Passengers have told the BBC how they were diverted mid-flight.
Craig Jenkins was flying back with Easyjet from Naples in Italy when his flight was diverted. Craig Jenkins, who was flying with Easyjet from Naples, Italy, said: "We were crossing over the Channel and it started circling.
"We were crossing over the Channel and it started circling," he said. "It did four or five circles, heading further east, before the captain said we were landing at Stansted. "It did four or five circles, heading further east, before the captain said we were landing at Stansted.
"First, they said Gatwick was closed because of an incident. Then, shortly after, they said it was a drone.""First, they said Gatwick was closed because of an incident. Then, shortly after, they said it was a drone."
Mr Jenkins, who is from Greenwich, London, said passengers were given the choice of getting off or waiting an hour and flying back to Gatwick. Mr Jenkins, who is from Greenwich, London, said passengers were given the choice of getting off at Stansted or waiting an hour and flying back to Gatwick.
Speaking before the decision was made to return to Gatwick, he said: "If one person gets off here, all the bags need to get off. There are lots of babies on this flight. I feel for the parents."
An Easyjet spokeswoman said three of its flights would continue on to Gatwick, while passengers from a fourth - which had been diverted to London Southend airport - would be provided with coach transfers.
"The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew is always Easyjet's highest priority," she added. "While the circumstances are outside of our control, Easyjet apologises for any inconvenience caused."
Aborted landingAborted landing
Niamh Slatter, from Sussex, was flying home from Valencia, Spain, when her BA flight was diverted to Bournemouth.Niamh Slatter, from Sussex, was flying home from Valencia, Spain, when her BA flight was diverted to Bournemouth.
"We were due to land 15 minutes early, but ended up circling over the south coast for a while," she said. "The crew were brilliant and explained that we were being held due to a drone in the airspace at Gatwick but that they would tell us when they had more information. "We were due to land 15 minutes early, but ended up circling over the south coast for a while," she said.
"Our attempted landing at Gatwick was aborted quite late as the drone had been spotted again, so we were told that the flight was being diverted to Bournemouth airport."Our attempted landing at Gatwick was aborted quite late as the drone had been spotted again, so we were told that the flight was being diverted to Bournemouth airport.
"The crew aboard the plane have been brilliant, as have the staff at Bournemouth, on standby ready for us and other planes that would be landing.""The crew aboard the plane have been brilliant, as have the staff at Bournemouth, on standby ready for us and other planes that would be landing."
Former senior air traffic controller Doug Maclean told BBC News he was not surprised by the incident due to the growth in drone use. An Easyjet spokeswoman said three of its flights would continue on to Gatwick, while passengers from a fourth, diverted to London Southend airport, would be provided with coach transfers.
"The aviation authorities really had no choice but to act on the safe side and suspend operations until they could find out what was happening," he said. "While the circumstances are outside of our control, Easyjet apologises for any inconvenience caused," she added.
"Drones are really very small. They are not designed to be spotted on air traffic radar. Airports like Gatwick and Heathrow are very busy places, so there are lots of people aware of what a drone looks like. Former senior air traffic controller Doug Maclean told BBC News said the aviation authorities had to "act on the safe side".
"As soon as anyone sees anything like that, I am sure there is going to be a very instant report to air traffic control, who would then have to make a judgement on how dangerous the situation was." "Drones are really very small. They are not designed to be spotted on air traffic radar."
Near missesNear misses
In April, the UK Airprox Board (UKAB), which monitors drone activity near airports, said there had been five near-misses in one month - bringing the total during the previous year to 62. But he added: "Airports like Gatwick and Heathrow are very busy places, so there are lots of people aware of what a drone looks like.
This included one on the approach to Edinburgh Airport on 25 November 2016 in which a drone came within 75ft of a plane. "As soon as anyone sees anything like that, I am sure there is going to be a very instant report to air traffic control, who would then have to make a judgement on how dangerous the situation was."
In April, the UK Airprox Board, which monitors drone activity near airports, said there had been five near-misses in one month - bringing the total during the previous year to 62.
This included one on the approach to Edinburgh Airport on 25 November 2016, in which a drone came within 75ft of a plane.
In another incident last November, a near-miss involving a passenger jet and more than one drone was reported in the UK for the first time near Heathrow airport.In another incident last November, a near-miss involving a passenger jet and more than one drone was reported in the UK for the first time near Heathrow airport.
Operations at Cork Airport in Ireland were suspended for 15 minutes on 20 April after a drone was spotted nearby. The Irish broadcaster RTE said two planes were delayed in landing. 'Severe penalties'
And last month, flights were suspended briefly at Leeds Bradford Airport. The Yorkshire Post reported that aircraft were grounded for a short time due to a drone - although the airport said there had been "minimal disruption".
The Civil Aviation Authority said there were serious consequences for people who broke the rules when flying drones.The Civil Aviation Authority said there were serious consequences for people who broke the rules when flying drones.
"Drone users have to understand that when taking to the skies they are potentially flying close to one of the busiest areas of airspace in the world - a complex system that brings together all manner of aircraft including passenger aeroplanes, military jets, helicopters, gliders and light aircraft," a spokesman said. "Drone users have to understand that when taking to the skies they are potentially flying close to one of the busiest areas of airspace in the world.
"Anyone operating a drone must do so responsibly and observe all relevant rules and regulations. The rules for flying drones are designed to keep all airspace users safe. It is totally unacceptable to fly drones close to airports and anyone flouting the rules can face severe penalties including imprisonment." "[It is] a complex system that brings together all manner of aircraft including passenger aeroplanes, military jets, helicopters, gliders and light aircraft," a spokesman said.
"The rules for flying drones are designed to keep all airspace users safe.
"It is totally unacceptable to fly drones close to airports and anyone flouting the rules can face severe penalties including imprisonment."