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Gatwick Airport: Drone sightings cause delays | Gatwick Airport: Drone sightings cause delays |
(35 minutes later) | |
Tens of thousands of passengers at one of the UK's busiest airports are experiencing flight disruption after drones were seen over the airfield. | Tens of 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. | Gatwick's runway remains closed after two of the devices were seen nearby. |
Flights are unable to take off or land and Gatwick said 110,000 passengers on 760 flights were due to use the airport on Thursday. | Flights are unable to take off or land and Gatwick said 110,000 passengers on 760 flights were due to use the airport on Thursday. |
Police were still hunting for the drone operator after another device was reported just before 07:00 GMT. | Police were still hunting for the drone operator after another device was reported just before 07:00 GMT. |
A spokesman for Sussex Police said: "There is absolutely nothing to suggest that this is terrorism-related." | A spokesman for Sussex Police said: "There is absolutely nothing to suggest that this is terrorism-related." |
Gatwick chief operating officer Chris Woodroofe said police had not wanted to shoot the devices down because of the risk from stray bullets. | Gatwick chief operating officer Chris Woodroofe said police had not wanted to shoot the devices down because of the risk from stray bullets. |
Gatwick Airport: Live updates | Gatwick Airport: Live updates |
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. | 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 . | European air traffic management group Eurocontrol said the runway would remain closed until 11:00 . |
The shutdown started just after 21:00 on Wednesday when two drones were spotted being flown over the airfield. | 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". |
About 10,000 passengers were affected overnight on Wednesday, with some flights landing in Paris and Amsterdam. | About 10,000 passengers were affected overnight on Wednesday, with some flights landing in Paris and Amsterdam. |
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". | 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 added: "The police are looking for the operator and that is the way to disable the drone." | He added: "The police are looking for the operator and that is the way to disable the drone." |
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. |
An airport spokesman said "Extra staff have been drafted in and food and water is being provided where possible." | |
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. |
Andri Kyprianou, from Cyprus, who had been visiting London, said: "There were pregnant women, one of them was sleeping on the floor. | Andri Kyprianou, from Cyprus, who had been visiting London, said: "There were pregnant women, one of them was sleeping on the floor. |
There were people with small babies in here overnight, we saw disabled people on chairs. There were young children sleeping on the floor." | There were people with small babies in here overnight, we saw disabled people on chairs. There were young children sleeping on the floor." |
An airport said apologised for any inconvenience and said airlines were "working to provide affected passengers with hotel accommodation" or provide alternative travel options. | An airport said apologised for any inconvenience and said airlines were "working to provide affected passengers with hotel accommodation" or provide alternative travel options. |
Drones and airports | Drones and airports |
The law says: | The law says: |
Source: dronesafe.uk | Source: dronesafe.uk |
Virgin Atlantic said all its incoming lights were being diverted and there would be delays to outgoing flights. | Virgin Atlantic said all its incoming lights were being diverted and there would be delays to outgoing flights. |
Tui said all its flights were being disrupted, saying it would be contacting all customers directly with further updates and posting information on its website. | |
According to its website, Gatwick Airport expects to welcome a "record-breaking" number of passengers over this year's Christmas period. | According to its website, Gatwick 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? Do you have questions about your consumer rights? 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 |