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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Drone causes Gatwick Airport disruption | Drone causes Gatwick Airport disruption |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A drone flying close to Gatwick Airport 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. |
| 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. | 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 said four of its flights had been diverted, while British Airways said one aircraft had been sent to Bournemouth. Other flights had to fly holding patterns as a precaution. | Easyjet said four of its flights had been diverted, while British Airways said one aircraft had been sent to Bournemouth. Other flights had to fly holding patterns as a precaution. |
| Sussex Police is investigating. | Sussex Police is investigating. |
| The airport said: "Runway operations at Gatwick were suspended between 18:10 BST and 18:19, and again from 18:36 to 18:41, resulting in a small number of go-arounds and diverts. | The airport said: "Runway operations at Gatwick were suspended between 18:10 BST and 18:19, and again from 18:36 to 18:41, 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." |
| Channel circles | Channel circles |
| Passengers have told the BBC how their flights were diverted away from Gatwick. | Passengers have told the BBC how their flights were diverted away from Gatwick. |
| Craig Jenkins, who was flying with Easyjet from Naples, Italy, said: "We were crossing over the Channel and it started circling. | Craig Jenkins, who was flying with Easyjet from Naples, Italy, said: "We were crossing over the Channel and it started circling. |
| "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, south-east London, said passengers were given the choice of disembarking at Stansted or waiting an hour and flying back to Gatwick. | Mr Jenkins, who is from Greenwich, south-east London, said passengers were given the choice of disembarking at Stansted or waiting an hour and flying back to Gatwick. |
| Aborted landing | Aborted 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. | "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." |
| An Easyjet spokeswoman said three flights would continue on to Gatwick, while passengers from a fourth, diverted to London Southend Airport, would be provided with coach transfers. | An Easyjet spokeswoman said three flights would continue on to Gatwick, while passengers from a fourth, diverted to London Southend Airport, would be provided with coach transfers. |
| "While the circumstances are outside of our control, Easyjet apologises for any inconvenience caused," she added. | "While the circumstances are outside of our control, Easyjet apologises for any inconvenience caused," she added. |
| Rules on flying drones | Rules on flying drones |
| In November 2016, the UK's drone code was revised and updated to help pilots ensure they fly the gadgets safely. | In November 2016, the UK's drone code was revised and updated to help pilots ensure they fly the gadgets safely. |
| The revised code turned the five main safety tips into a mnemonic, spelling drone, to make it easier to remember. | The revised code turned the five main safety tips into a mnemonic, spelling drone, to make it easier to remember. |
| UK revises safe flying drone code | UK revises safe flying drone code |
| Former senior air traffic controller Doug Maclean told BBC News aviation authorities had to "act on the safe side" in incidents involving drones. | Former senior air traffic controller Doug Maclean told BBC News aviation authorities had to "act on the safe side" in incidents involving drones. |
| "Drones are really very small. They are not designed to be spotted on air traffic radar." | "Drones are really very small. They are not designed to be spotted on air traffic radar." |
| 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. | 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. |
| "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." | "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." |
| The British Airline Pilots' Association's flight safety specialist Steve Landells said the threat of drones flown near aircraft "must be addressed before we see a disaster". | The British Airline Pilots' Association's flight safety specialist Steve Landells said the threat of drones flown near aircraft "must be addressed before we see a disaster". |
| "We believe a collision, particularly with a helicopter, has the potential to be catastrophic," he said. | "We believe a collision, particularly with a helicopter, has the potential to be catastrophic," he said. |
| The union has called for compulsory registration of drone users and said new technology should be considered, including a system where the drone transmits enough data for the police to track down the operator. | The union has called for compulsory registration of drone users and said new technology should be considered, including a system where the drone transmits enough data for the police to track down the operator. |
| In April, the UK Airprox Board, which monitors near-miss incidents, said there had been five such incidents in one month. | |
| This included one on the approach to Edinburgh Airport on 25 November 2016, in which a drone came within 75ft of an aircraft. | This included one on the approach to Edinburgh Airport on 25 November 2016, in which a drone came within 75ft of an aircraft. |
| 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. |
| How common are near misses involving drones? | |
| There were 70 Airprox reports involving drones coming close to aircraft over the UK in 2016. This is more than double the number for 2015. | |
| There were 33 incidents up to May 2017. An Airprox is the official term for a situation where the distance between aircraft and their relative positions and speed were such that the safety of the aircraft may have been compromised. | |
| Only one drone has actually struck a passenger aircraft. This happened in April 2016 to a British Airways flight approaching Heathrow. The plane, an A320 Airbus carrying 132 passengers and five crew, landed safely. | |
| The Civil Aviation Authority recommends drones be flown at no higher than 400ft. However, the highest Airprox involving a drone was at 12,500ft. | |
| Of the 142 Airprox incidents involving drones recorded since 2010, 40 of them were near to Heathrow. Six of them, up to May, had been near to Gatwick. | |
| 'Severe penalties' | 'Severe penalties' |
| 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. | "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. |
| "[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. | "[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. |
| "It is totally unacceptable to fly drones close to airports and anyone flouting the rules can face severe penalties including imprisonment." | "It is totally unacceptable to fly drones close to airports and anyone flouting the rules can face severe penalties including imprisonment." |