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| Gatwick Airport Closed After Drone Flights That Officials Call ‘Deliberate’ | Gatwick Airport Closed After Drone Flights That Officials Call ‘Deliberate’ |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| LONDON — One of the most heavily surveilled strips of one of the most heavily surveilled nations on earth was brought to a standstill and shut to air traffic for more than 24 hours at the peak of the holiday season on Thursday by a humble pair of drones. | |
| The shutdown scrambled hundreds of flights, stranded tens of thousands of passengers and reduced the British government to playing cat-and-mouse with two drones that, possibly with little more than an iPad, were repeatedly sent floating over the runway of the country’s second-largest airport in what officials called a “deliberate act” before vanishing from view. | The shutdown scrambled hundreds of flights, stranded tens of thousands of passengers and reduced the British government to playing cat-and-mouse with two drones that, possibly with little more than an iPad, were repeatedly sent floating over the runway of the country’s second-largest airport in what officials called a “deliberate act” before vanishing from view. |
| With police officials still at a loss at Gatwick Airport on Thursday night, the episode was proving not only to be a humiliation for aviation officials, but also the most sobering evidence yet that airports across the world can be brought to their knees by devices that anyone can buy at the mall. | With police officials still at a loss at Gatwick Airport on Thursday night, the episode was proving not only to be a humiliation for aviation officials, but also the most sobering evidence yet that airports across the world can be brought to their knees by devices that anyone can buy at the mall. |
| In the midst of reckonings on both sides of the Atlantic about the misbehavior and manipulation of social media companies for unscrupulous ends, the episode was another reminder that the makers of consumer technology are evolving more quickly than the laws designed to keep it in check. | In the midst of reckonings on both sides of the Atlantic about the misbehavior and manipulation of social media companies for unscrupulous ends, the episode was another reminder that the makers of consumer technology are evolving more quickly than the laws designed to keep it in check. |
| Legislators and airport officials are still working on defenses against the last generation of drone technology, while engineers are successfully finding ways to defeat them. Meanwhile, hobbyists and malfeasants alike are turning their neighborhood parks into airports and beginning to crowd newly democratized skies. | Legislators and airport officials are still working on defenses against the last generation of drone technology, while engineers are successfully finding ways to defeat them. Meanwhile, hobbyists and malfeasants alike are turning their neighborhood parks into airports and beginning to crowd newly democratized skies. |
| The number of aircraft scares involving drones recorded by the British government has shot up from none in 2013 to more than 100 this year, and planes in Mexico and Canada have recently survived dangerous collisions with what appeared to be drones. The police described the devices used at Gatwick as “of industrial specification.” | The number of aircraft scares involving drones recorded by the British government has shot up from none in 2013 to more than 100 this year, and planes in Mexico and Canada have recently survived dangerous collisions with what appeared to be drones. The police described the devices used at Gatwick as “of industrial specification.” |
| “Over 90 percent of airports in the world are unprepared for drones,” said Tim Bean, the founder and chief executive of Fortem Technologies, which is testing its own drone defense system on several American runways. “Airports, stadiums, borders, oil and gas refineries — they spend a lot of money on ground security, but I think they now need to think about their airspace security.” | “Over 90 percent of airports in the world are unprepared for drones,” said Tim Bean, the founder and chief executive of Fortem Technologies, which is testing its own drone defense system on several American runways. “Airports, stadiums, borders, oil and gas refineries — they spend a lot of money on ground security, but I think they now need to think about their airspace security.” |
| Mr. Bean said airports have been fixated on building tools to intercept drones that emit radio frequency signals, only to find that drones have evolved far beyond that technology, rendering many of the current security systems obsolete. | Mr. Bean said airports have been fixated on building tools to intercept drones that emit radio frequency signals, only to find that drones have evolved far beyond that technology, rendering many of the current security systems obsolete. |
| About 20 police units searched the perimeter of the airfield to track down whomever was operating the drones. By Thursday night, the British government said it would deploy the military at Gatwick in a bid to help reopen the airport, though it was not clear what its role would be. And police sharpshooters were spotted at the airport, though officials had earlier precluded that option, citing the risk of a stray bullet hitting someone. | About 20 police units searched the perimeter of the airfield to track down whomever was operating the drones. By Thursday night, the British government said it would deploy the military at Gatwick in a bid to help reopen the airport, though it was not clear what its role would be. And police sharpshooters were spotted at the airport, though officials had earlier precluded that option, citing the risk of a stray bullet hitting someone. |
| Airport staff members first spotted the drones flying over the perimeter fence and into the runway area around 9 p.m. on Wednesday. Officials shut the runway, then reopened it around 3 a.m. on Thursday before closing it again about 45 minutes later when there was another sighting. Yet another drone was spotted late Thursday morning. | Airport staff members first spotted the drones flying over the perimeter fence and into the runway area around 9 p.m. on Wednesday. Officials shut the runway, then reopened it around 3 a.m. on Thursday before closing it again about 45 minutes later when there was another sighting. Yet another drone was spotted late Thursday morning. |
| Police officials said there were “no indications to suggest this is terror related.” | Police officials said there were “no indications to suggest this is terror related.” |
| The shutdown canceled at least 800 flights, disrupted traffic throughout Europe and could end up affecting upwards of 100,000 passengers. Arriving flights carrying 10,000 passengers were diverted, with some travelers forced to land at airports as far away as Paris. | The shutdown canceled at least 800 flights, disrupted traffic throughout Europe and could end up affecting upwards of 100,000 passengers. Arriving flights carrying 10,000 passengers were diverted, with some travelers forced to land at airports as far away as Paris. |
| It created bedlam at the south terminal of Gatwick, which is about 25 miles south of central London and is regularly rated Europe’s worst airport and one of the worst in the world. Long lines of weary passengers stretched from the check-in counters to the arrivals area of an adjacent building. | It created bedlam at the south terminal of Gatwick, which is about 25 miles south of central London and is regularly rated Europe’s worst airport and one of the worst in the world. Long lines of weary passengers stretched from the check-in counters to the arrivals area of an adjacent building. |
| Passengers slumped over their luggage, refreshing their smartphone screens every few minutes for updates. Others sat staring into space, looking utterly defeated. | Passengers slumped over their luggage, refreshing their smartphone screens every few minutes for updates. Others sat staring into space, looking utterly defeated. |
| “Who around here can give me some information?” Gary Hornby, 47, shouted after cursing at an airport staff member. “When the hell are we getting out of here?” he went on, kicking his suitcase. | “Who around here can give me some information?” Gary Hornby, 47, shouted after cursing at an airport staff member. “When the hell are we getting out of here?” he went on, kicking his suitcase. |
| Mr. Hornby had been waiting more than four hours to check in to his Norwegian Air flight to Las Vegas. When he eventually got through to the airline on the phone, he was told that his flight might be canceled, but that he should wait at the airport for updates. | Mr. Hornby had been waiting more than four hours to check in to his Norwegian Air flight to Las Vegas. When he eventually got through to the airline on the phone, he was told that his flight might be canceled, but that he should wait at the airport for updates. |
| “This is so typical, the one year I decide to actually go away for Christmas I get stuck in England,” he said. | “This is so typical, the one year I decide to actually go away for Christmas I get stuck in England,” he said. |
| Others were baffled by how poorly prepared the airport seemed. | Others were baffled by how poorly prepared the airport seemed. |
| “This is a huge security risk. How does the airport not have the resources to down the drone?” asked Alison Carter, 44, a German teacher. “What kind of message does this give to terrorists and criminals?” | “This is a huge security risk. How does the airport not have the resources to down the drone?” asked Alison Carter, 44, a German teacher. “What kind of message does this give to terrorists and criminals?” |
| Technology companies have invented several anti-drone defense systems, but they are relatively new, and airports and government officials are still weighing which to invest in. One system that was recently deployed to stop drug smuggling at an English prison acts as an electronic fence, blocking radio signals around a prison whenever drones are detected. | Technology companies have invented several anti-drone defense systems, but they are relatively new, and airports and government officials are still weighing which to invest in. One system that was recently deployed to stop drug smuggling at an English prison acts as an electronic fence, blocking radio signals around a prison whenever drones are detected. |
| But Richard Gill, the founder and chief executive of Drone Defence, which made the electronic fence, said airports were technologically complex landscapes and officials were studying all the available options. He said the mishap at Gatwick would concentrate people’s minds on the potential dangers. | But Richard Gill, the founder and chief executive of Drone Defence, which made the electronic fence, said airports were technologically complex landscapes and officials were studying all the available options. He said the mishap at Gatwick would concentrate people’s minds on the potential dangers. |
| “This hasn’t happened anywhere in the world before,” he said. | “This hasn’t happened anywhere in the world before,” he said. |
| The system developed by Mr. Bean and Fortem Technologies uses a sophisticated radar system to detect intruder drones, and then sends a drone hunter to pluck them out of the sky or dog fight with them if necessary. The system is already being used to monitor two runways at Salt Lake City International Airport and others, he said. | The system developed by Mr. Bean and Fortem Technologies uses a sophisticated radar system to detect intruder drones, and then sends a drone hunter to pluck them out of the sky or dog fight with them if necessary. The system is already being used to monitor two runways at Salt Lake City International Airport and others, he said. |
| British laws make it illegal to fly a drone within a kilometer, or about three-fifths of a mile, of airport boundaries. Violators are subject to five years in prison. | British laws make it illegal to fly a drone within a kilometer, or about three-fifths of a mile, of airport boundaries. Violators are subject to five years in prison. |
| Since Nov. 30, owners of drones weighing more than 250 grams, or a bit more than half a pound, have had to register them with the Civil Aviation Authority, and those who fly them must pass an online safety test. Not following these steps can result in fines of as much as $1,270. | Since Nov. 30, owners of drones weighing more than 250 grams, or a bit more than half a pound, have had to register them with the Civil Aviation Authority, and those who fly them must pass an online safety test. Not following these steps can result in fines of as much as $1,270. |
| Airports have been shut down before over the appearance of a drone. Gatwick was closed after drone sightings in July 2017. Airports in Chengdu, China; Dubai, the United Arab Emirates; and Ottawa have also had to shut down because of drone sightings. | Airports have been shut down before over the appearance of a drone. Gatwick was closed after drone sightings in July 2017. Airports in Chengdu, China; Dubai, the United Arab Emirates; and Ottawa have also had to shut down because of drone sightings. |
| Many drones have internal GPS software that prevents pilots from flying them into restricted areas like airports. But Ulrike Franke, a policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations who specializes in drones, said the systems were imperfect and could be subverted by people who understood their workings. | Many drones have internal GPS software that prevents pilots from flying them into restricted areas like airports. But Ulrike Franke, a policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations who specializes in drones, said the systems were imperfect and could be subverted by people who understood their workings. |
| And they can ultimately do a lot of damage. | And they can ultimately do a lot of damage. |
| “The danger is pretty much the same as with birds: A drone may get caught in an engine during takeoff and landing,” Ms. Franke said. “It’s plastic, metal and lithium batteries that can explode.” | “The danger is pretty much the same as with birds: A drone may get caught in an engine during takeoff and landing,” Ms. Franke said. “It’s plastic, metal and lithium batteries that can explode.” |