This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2018/dec/20/gatwick-airport-drone-travel-chaos-disruption-live-updates

The article has changed 32 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Gatwick airport drone disruption - live updates Gatwick airport drone disruption - live updates
(35 minutes later)
More than 13 hours after a drone was first spotted over Gatwick the police are still trying to bring it down.
Transport minister Baroness Sugg “The police are working to bring the drone down, and I am confident that they will do so.”
She added: “Our priority is to get that airport open as safely as possible so that people can fly off on their Christmas breaks, or people who are coming in to visit friends and family.”
Various techniques are available for combatting drones, including eagles:
And a signal jamming Sky Fence that has been successfully deployed around Guernsey prison.
Anti-drone technology could be introduced in English prisons
LNER is offering those whose flights have been cancelled between Edinburgh and Gatwick free rail travel.
Has your flight between London #GatwickAirport and Edinburgh been cancelled today? If so, you can use your flight tickets to travel on our trains today for FREE. #HomeforChristmas 🎅 https://t.co/iEB3oRh2Nv
Suzanne Donnelly, Commercial Director at LNER, said: “We know how important it is to get to where you’re going and are delighted that we are able to step in and help out.”
And EasyJet is offering free flight transfers.
Customers on cancelled flights will be entitled to a free of charge transfer to an alternative flight. Whilst the situation is outside of our control we would like to apologise to passengers for the inconvenience caused.
The Guardian’s Damien Gayle has been dispatched to Gatwick to monitor the chaos. Here’s the first of his updates:
Passengers just arriving by train at #gatwick are being told that there will be no flights until at least 11am. pic.twitter.com/X8H182afGl
If you’ve been affected by the events at Gatwick and would like to share eyewitness accounts or news tips, anonymously if you prefer, with our journalists then please do so via the form here. The form is encrypted and your responses are only seen by the Guardian. You can also contact the Guardian via WhatsApp by adding the contact +44(0)7867825056.If you’ve been affected by the events at Gatwick and would like to share eyewitness accounts or news tips, anonymously if you prefer, with our journalists then please do so via the form here. The form is encrypted and your responses are only seen by the Guardian. You can also contact the Guardian via WhatsApp by adding the contact +44(0)7867825056.
Tory MP Henry Smith MP, whose Crawley constituency borders Gatwick, said drone activity at the airport “appears to a be deliberate criminal act”. He is calling for tougher sentences against illegal drone operators. “The sentence is now 5 years in prison but further efforts are clearly required,” he tweeted.Tory MP Henry Smith MP, whose Crawley constituency borders Gatwick, said drone activity at the airport “appears to a be deliberate criminal act”. He is calling for tougher sentences against illegal drone operators. “The sentence is now 5 years in prison but further efforts are clearly required,” he tweeted.
The closure of Gatwick Airport for 12 hours now due to drone flying appears to be a deliberate criminal act with geofencing breached. I’ve previously raised this issue in Parliament and will be again. The sentence is now 5 years in prison but further efforts are clearly required.The closure of Gatwick Airport for 12 hours now due to drone flying appears to be a deliberate criminal act with geofencing breached. I’ve previously raised this issue in Parliament and will be again. The sentence is now 5 years in prison but further efforts are clearly required.
Andri Kyprianou, from Cyprus, who had been visiting London, said she saw a pregnant woman sleeping on the floor and passengers with infants spending the night in the “freezing” South Terminal, PA reports.Andri Kyprianou, from Cyprus, who had been visiting London, said she saw a pregnant woman sleeping on the floor and passengers with infants spending the night in the “freezing” South Terminal, PA reports.
She said she got to the airport at 12.30am for a 3am flight to Cyprus via Kiev, only to find it had been cancelled, and that the next connection in Kiev is on Sunday.She said she got to the airport at 12.30am for a 3am flight to Cyprus via Kiev, only to find it had been cancelled, and that the next connection in Kiev is on Sunday.
She said:She said:
“I haven’t slept since yesterday morning, we are very tired. It’s freezing, we are cold, having to wear all of these coats for extra blankets.“I haven’t slept since yesterday morning, we are very tired. It’s freezing, we are cold, having to wear all of these coats for extra blankets.
“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 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 young children sleeping on the floor.”
She said she will have to spend a night in Kiev, but she had been told by Ukrainian Airlines that there may be a chance of an alternative connection through Tel Aviv.She said she will have to spend a night in Kiev, but she had been told by Ukrainian Airlines that there may be a chance of an alternative connection through Tel Aviv.
Here’s the grim looking arrivals board at Gatwick, courtesy of PA.Here’s the grim looking arrivals board at Gatwick, courtesy of PA.
Ten thousand passengers have suffered flight chaos after the runway at Gatwick Airport was closed due to drones being flown nearby pic.twitter.com/Lt2k9jz21dTen thousand passengers have suffered flight chaos after the runway at Gatwick Airport was closed due to drones being flown nearby pic.twitter.com/Lt2k9jz21d
Gatwick is now expected to be closed until at least 12pm, according to Airlive citing the European aviation agency Eurocontrol.Gatwick is now expected to be closed until at least 12pm, according to Airlive citing the European aviation agency Eurocontrol.
UPDATE London Gatwick closure now extended till 12.00 UTC https://t.co/mA8kWbsU0DUPDATE London Gatwick closure now extended till 12.00 UTC https://t.co/mA8kWbsU0D
The government has condemned the operators of the drones as acting “incredibly irresponsibly”.The government has condemned the operators of the drones as acting “incredibly irresponsibly”.
Aviation minister Baroness Sugg said:Aviation minister Baroness Sugg said:
“These drones have been flown illegally and the operators, who have acted incredibly irresponsibly, could face up to five years in jail.“These drones have been flown illegally and the operators, who have acted incredibly irresponsibly, could face up to five years in jail.
“We are in close contact with Gatwick Airport as they work with police to safely resolve the situation as quickly as possible.”“We are in close contact with Gatwick Airport as they work with police to safely resolve the situation as quickly as possible.”
Aviation Minister Baroness Sugg: “These drones have been flown illegally and the operators, who have acted incredibly irresponsibly, could face up to five years in jail.” https://t.co/D1buFJyIOLAviation Minister Baroness Sugg: “These drones have been flown illegally and the operators, who have acted incredibly irresponsibly, could face up to five years in jail.” https://t.co/D1buFJyIOL
Pilots said the Gatwick incident highlights the need for tougher laws against drones.Pilots said the Gatwick incident highlights the need for tougher laws against drones.
Dr Rob Hunter, head of flight safety at the British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA), said:Dr Rob Hunter, head of flight safety at the British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA), said:
“The public needs to understand that drones are not just toys and could have catastrophic consequences if they collide with an aircraft.“The public needs to understand that drones are not just toys and could have catastrophic consequences if they collide with an aircraft.
We know a lot of drones will be under people’s Christmas trees and we implore them to ensure they’re aware of the rules and fly their drones in a safe and sensible manner.”We know a lot of drones will be under people’s Christmas trees and we implore them to ensure they’re aware of the rules and fly their drones in a safe and sensible manner.”
“These drone sightings at Gatwick are further evidence that tougher laws and enforcement are required to keep drones clear of manned flights.“These drone sightings at Gatwick are further evidence that tougher laws and enforcement are required to keep drones clear of manned flights.
“That’s why we need the registration and education process in force sooner rather than later, so people flouting the law can be caught and prosecuted.“That’s why we need the registration and education process in force sooner rather than later, so people flouting the law can be caught and prosecuted.
“At the same time, BALPA is also calling for the government to consider toughening the law to create a larger no-fly zone around airports.“At the same time, BALPA is also calling for the government to consider toughening the law to create a larger no-fly zone around airports.
“We need to ensure people flying drones take responsibility for their actions and do so responsibly with the knowledge that if they endanger an aircraft they could face jail.”“We need to ensure people flying drones take responsibility for their actions and do so responsibly with the knowledge that if they endanger an aircraft they could face jail.”
“These drone sightings at Gatwick are further evidence that we need the registration and education process in force sooner rather than later, so people flouting the law can be caught and prosecuted." https://t.co/VkADrTDttV“These drone sightings at Gatwick are further evidence that we need the registration and education process in force sooner rather than later, so people flouting the law can be caught and prosecuted." https://t.co/VkADrTDttV
Gatwick is to remain closed until at least 11am according Airlive.Gatwick is to remain closed until at least 11am according Airlive.
ALERT London Gatwick to remain closed till at least 11.00 UTC https://t.co/mA8kWbsU0DALERT London Gatwick to remain closed till at least 11.00 UTC https://t.co/mA8kWbsU0D
A Gatwick spokesman said 110,000 passengers were due to either take off or land at the airport on 760 flights on Thursday.A Gatwick spokesman said 110,000 passengers were due to either take off or land at the airport on 760 flights on Thursday.
He was unable to state how many of these passengers had already been affected but the first wave of flights is normally the busiest time of the day.He was unable to state how many of these passengers had already been affected but the first wave of flights is normally the busiest time of the day.
Around 10,000 passengers were affected on Wednesday night after the runway was closed at 9.03pm.Around 10,000 passengers were affected on Wednesday night after the runway was closed at 9.03pm.
Welcome to live coverage of the continuing travel disruption at Gatwick airport after drones over the runway caused flights to be suspended.Welcome to live coverage of the continuing travel disruption at Gatwick airport after drones over the runway caused flights to be suspended.
Chris Woodroofe, the airport’s chief operating officer, apologised to passengers and said the drones could not be shot down because of the risk of stray bullets causing harm.Chris Woodroofe, the airport’s chief operating officer, apologised to passengers and said the drones could not be shot down because of the risk of stray bullets causing harm.
Police from two forces have been scouring the perimeter to try to catch the operators of the drones which were first spotted at 9pm on Wednesday night.Police from two forces have been scouring the perimeter to try to catch the operators of the drones which were first spotted at 9pm on Wednesday night.
Speaking to Sky News on Thursday morning Woodroofe said: “As I stand here, there is a drone on my airfield as we speak.”Speaking to Sky News on Thursday morning Woodroofe said: “As I stand here, there is a drone on my airfield as we speak.”
Gatwick is advising passengers not to travel to the airport without checking with their airline first.Gatwick is advising passengers not to travel to the airport without checking with their airline first.
Thursday 07.40: Flights to and from Gatwick remain suspended, due to drone activity. Please do not travel to the airport without checking with your airline first. We 're sorry for the inconvenience today, but the safety of our passengers and staff is our no.1 priority.Thursday 07.40: Flights to and from Gatwick remain suspended, due to drone activity. Please do not travel to the airport without checking with your airline first. We 're sorry for the inconvenience today, but the safety of our passengers and staff is our no.1 priority.
Gatwick airport suspends flights after reports of drones over runwayGatwick airport suspends flights after reports of drones over runway