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Gatwick Airport: Drone sightings cause delays | Gatwick Airport: Drone sightings cause delays |
(35 minutes later) | |
Thousands of passengers at one of the UK's busiest airports are experiencing flight disruption after drones were seen over the airfield. | |
Gatwick's runway remains closed after two of the devices were seen nearby. | |
About 10,000 passengers were affected as flights were unable to take off and incoming planes were redirected - with some landing in Paris and Amsterdam. | |
Chief operating officer Chris Woodroofe said staff were trying to find a drone reported as still being in the air. | |
The airport said 110,000 passengers were due to either take off or land at the airport on 760 flights on Thursday. | |
Those due to travel have been told to check the status of their flight, while Easyjet told its passengers not to go to Gatwick if their flights have been cancelled. | |
European air traffic management group Eurocontrol said the runway would remain closed until 11:00 GMT. | |
Gatwick Airport: Live updates | Gatwick Airport: Live updates |
The shutdown started just after 21:00 on Wednesday when two drones were spotted being flown over the airfield. | |
The runway was briefly reopened at about 03:01, the airport said, but forced to close again about 45 minutes later amid "a further sighting of drones". | The runway was briefly reopened at about 03:01, the airport said, but forced to close again about 45 minutes later amid "a further sighting of drones". |
Police units and a helicopter were still hunting for the drone operator after another device was reported just before 07:00. | |
Mr Woodroofe told the BBC two drones had been seen flying "over the perimeter fence and into where the runway operates from", sparking "very significant disruption". | |
He said police had not wanted to shoot the devices down because of the risk from stray bullets. | |
It is illegal to fly a drone within 1km of an airport or airfield boundary. | It is illegal to fly a drone within 1km of an airport or airfield boundary. |
Planes were diverted to other airports including London Heathrow, Luton and Manchester. | Planes were diverted to other airports including London Heathrow, Luton and Manchester. |
Aviation website airlive.net said some services were re-routed as far away as Cardiff, Paris and Amsterdam. | Aviation website airlive.net said some services were re-routed as far away as Cardiff, Paris and Amsterdam. |
Crowds of passengers waited inside Gatwick's terminal for updates, while others reported being stuck on waiting planes for several hours. | Crowds of passengers waited inside Gatwick's terminal for updates, while others reported being stuck on waiting planes for several hours. |
Kasia Jaworska told the BBC she had been travelling from Glasgow to Gatwick with her boyfriend when her flight was diverted to Luton. | Kasia Jaworska told the BBC she had been travelling from Glasgow to Gatwick with her boyfriend when her flight was diverted to Luton. |
After spending about two hours on the plane, she said the couple were put on a bus to Gatwick, from where they had been due to fly to Istanbul. | After spending about two hours on the plane, she said the couple were put on a bus to Gatwick, from where they had been due to fly to Istanbul. |
Ms Jaworska said she thought it was "strange" that two drones had led to the closure of the airport. | Ms Jaworska said she thought it was "strange" that two drones had led to the closure of the airport. |
"You would imagine there would be better security in place and emergency action for something like that," she added. | "You would imagine there would be better security in place and emergency action for something like that," she added. |
Christopher Lister, who had been returning from Kiev, posted a picture of people sleeping "on every seat and across the floors" on board his flight. | Christopher Lister, who had been returning from Kiev, posted a picture of people sleeping "on every seat and across the floors" on board his flight. |
He said the photo was taken six hours after the plane - which was due to arrive at Gatwick - landed in Birmingham. | He said the photo was taken six hours after the plane - which was due to arrive at Gatwick - landed in Birmingham. |
Luke McComiskie, whose flight ended up in Manchester, described chaotic scenes as people tried to find their way home after more than three hours stuck onboard. | Luke McComiskie, whose flight ended up in Manchester, described chaotic scenes as people tried to find their way home after more than three hours stuck onboard. |
The 20-year-old, from Aldershot, told the Press Association: "We got told there would be some arrangements with coaches for us when we get out the terminal. | The 20-year-old, from Aldershot, told the Press Association: "We got told there would be some arrangements with coaches for us when we get out the terminal. |
"It was just chaos and they had only two coaches and taxis charging people £600 to get to Gatwick." | "It was just chaos and they had only two coaches and taxis charging people £600 to get to Gatwick." |
Eddie Boyes said he and his family had been at the airport for six hours and people were sleeping on the floor. | Eddie Boyes said he and his family had been at the airport for six hours and people were sleeping on the floor. |
Drones and airports | Drones and airports |
The law says: | The law says: |
Source: dronesafe.uk | Source: dronesafe.uk |
Gatwick Airport said airlines were "working to provide affected passengers with hotel accommodation" or provide alternative travel options. | Gatwick Airport said airlines were "working to provide affected passengers with hotel accommodation" or provide alternative travel options. |
A spokesman apologised for any inconvenience and said staff were working alongside Sussex Police to investigate the drone sightings. | A spokesman apologised for any inconvenience and said staff were working alongside Sussex Police to investigate the drone sightings. |
British Airways said a "very small number of flights" had been diverted. | British Airways said a "very small number of flights" had been diverted. |
According to its website, the airport expects to welcome a "record-breaking" number of passengers over this year's Christmas period. | According to its website, the airport expects to welcome a "record-breaking" number of passengers over this year's Christmas period. |
It predicts 2.9m people will pass through its gates during the festive getaway, with 73,000 of those due to depart this Sunday. | It predicts 2.9m people will pass through its gates during the festive getaway, with 73,000 of those due to depart this Sunday. |
Have you been affected by the suspension of flights at Gatwick Airport? Let us know by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you been affected by the suspension of flights at Gatwick Airport? Let us know by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |