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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/dec/19/gatwick-flights-halted-after-drone-sighting
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Gatwick airport suspends flights after reports of drones | Gatwick airport suspends flights after reports of drones |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Gatwick airport has advised travellers to check the status of their flights on Thursday after reports of drones being flown over the airfield forced it to suspend flights. | Gatwick airport has advised travellers to check the status of their flights on Thursday after reports of drones being flown over the airfield forced it to suspend flights. |
| Two drones were reportedly spotted hovering near a runway on Wednesday evening at what is the UK’s second-busiest airport, prompting air traffic controllers to stop all flights while authorities investigated. Gatwick apologised for the suspension but said the safety of passengers was a priority. | Two drones were reportedly spotted hovering near a runway on Wednesday evening at what is the UK’s second-busiest airport, prompting air traffic controllers to stop all flights while authorities investigated. Gatwick apologised for the suspension but said the safety of passengers was a priority. |
| More than 20 flights were diverted to airports across the UK and Europe, including Manchester, Liverpool, Paris, Birmingham and Amsterdam, according to flightradar24, causing major disruption during one of the busiest periods of the year. | |
| Airspace above the west Sussex airport in the early hours of Thursday was empty as authorities searched for the drones. | Airspace above the west Sussex airport in the early hours of Thursday was empty as authorities searched for the drones. |
| There were also multiple reports on social media of passengers being held for more than two hours in their plane while they waited for Gatwick airport to reopen the runway. | There were also multiple reports on social media of passengers being held for more than two hours in their plane while they waited for Gatwick airport to reopen the runway. |
| Flights were diverted to other airports, including Luton, Heathrow, Stansted and Manhester. They were also sent as far as Amsterdam and Paris. | |
| Been stuck on the tarmac for over an hour after landing at Luton instead of @Gatwick_Airport - crew have said all airports in the South are full to capacity. No idea how we're going to get home - no info on onward travel! pic.twitter.com/PYqfkw2fhN | |
| pic.twitter.com/RrdWpNk1kY | pic.twitter.com/RrdWpNk1kY |
| Responding to a passenger who complained their plane had been diverted to Stansted, and then Heathrow, British Airways tweeted: “Gatwick have stopped all arrivals and departures due to a drone, we’ve been told. Something that’s not within our control. We hope the crew keeps you updated.” | Responding to a passenger who complained their plane had been diverted to Stansted, and then Heathrow, British Airways tweeted: “Gatwick have stopped all arrivals and departures due to a drone, we’ve been told. Something that’s not within our control. We hope the crew keeps you updated.” |
| One traveller said on social media that his plane had been diverted to Stansted while they waited for the airport to reopen. He added that passengers had been given the choice between a bus from Stansted to Gatwick, or flying back to Gatwick when the airport reopened. | One traveller said on social media that his plane had been diverted to Stansted while they waited for the airport to reopen. He added that passengers had been given the choice between a bus from Stansted to Gatwick, or flying back to Gatwick when the airport reopened. |
| Chaos at Gatwick as ‘drone spotted near the airport’ SHUTS the runway https://t.co/KBeDAbjzjj pic.twitter.com/vsQa1vQyk5 | |
| UPDATE Gatwick inbound flights diverted as far as Paris and Amsterdam https://t.co/mA8kWbsU0D | |
| In a statement, Gatwick said: “Following reports of two drones flying over the Gatwick airport airfield, we have had to suspend flights while this is investigated. | In a statement, Gatwick said: “Following reports of two drones flying over the Gatwick airport airfield, we have had to suspend flights while this is investigated. |
| “We advise everyone flying from Gatwick, or collecting someone from the airport, Wednesday 19 December or Thursday 20 December, to check the status of their flight. | “We advise everyone flying from Gatwick, or collecting someone from the airport, Wednesday 19 December or Thursday 20 December, to check the status of their flight. |
| It appears that the @NPAShq helicopter has returned to #GatwickAirport amidst continued unconfirmed reports that several #drones are still flying in and around the confines of the airport. #drones #gatwick #police pic.twitter.com/fQr1EUsIX2 | |
| “We apologise to any affected passengers for this inconvenience but the safety of our passengers and staff is our foremost priority.” | “We apologise to any affected passengers for this inconvenience but the safety of our passengers and staff is our foremost priority.” |
| Gatwick airport | Gatwick airport |
| Crime | Crime |
| Air transport | Air transport |
| Transport | Transport |
| Drones (non-military) | Drones (non-military) |
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