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Gatwick airport: Drone activity reported 'within the last hour' – live Gatwick airport: Grayling accused of 'abject failure' over drone legislation – live
(35 minutes later)
A Gatwick Airport statement urged travellers not to arrive at the airport until they check with their airline if their flight is cancelled.
It said: “Passengers due to fly from Gatwick should check the status of their flight with their airline and not travel to the airport if their flight is not confirmed.
“We have called in additional staff right across the airport, many from Christmas leave, and are working tirelessly with police and security partners to halt this drone flying and thank passengers for their continued patience.”
Karl Turner, the shadow aviation minister, said regulations around drones were not tight enough and echoed the British airline pilots’ association in blaming Chris Grayling, the transport secretary, for failing to act.Karl Turner, the shadow aviation minister, said regulations around drones were not tight enough and echoed the British airline pilots’ association in blaming Chris Grayling, the transport secretary, for failing to act.
“There should be wider exclusion zones around airports - I think the law says one kilometre at the moment, it should probably be five kilometres according to the experts,” he told BBC2’s Newsnight.“There should be wider exclusion zones around airports - I think the law says one kilometre at the moment, it should probably be five kilometres according to the experts,” he told BBC2’s Newsnight.
“The Government should have brought this legislation forward, it’s been an abject failure and I blame Chris Grayling.“The Government should have brought this legislation forward, it’s been an abject failure and I blame Chris Grayling.
“He should have been in the House of Commons today making a statement and explaining to MPs why the Government has failed to bring this legislation forward.”“He should have been in the House of Commons today making a statement and explaining to MPs why the Government has failed to bring this legislation forward.”
The body representing pilots said the government has not been listening to calls for a 5km (3.1 miles) exclusion zone.The body representing pilots said the government has not been listening to calls for a 5km (3.1 miles) exclusion zone.
Current laws state that drones are banned from flying within 1km (0.6 miles) of UK airport boundaries in a bid to improve flight safety.Current laws state that drones are banned from flying within 1km (0.6 miles) of UK airport boundaries in a bid to improve flight safety.
Captain Dave Smith, British airline pilots’ association spokesman, said: “We feel very let down by the government because we invested in some research last year with the Department for Transport and the Military Aviation Authority proved that these drones, that only weigh 2kg, but have batteries and motors, can cause catastrophic accidents if they hit an aircraft.”Captain Dave Smith, British airline pilots’ association spokesman, said: “We feel very let down by the government because we invested in some research last year with the Department for Transport and the Military Aviation Authority proved that these drones, that only weigh 2kg, but have batteries and motors, can cause catastrophic accidents if they hit an aircraft.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Tingley said “we have a number of persons of interest that we are following up.”Detective Chief Superintendent Tingley said “we have a number of persons of interest that we are following up.”
“We are following all lines of inquiry and that would include particular groups.“We are following all lines of inquiry and that would include particular groups.
“The military are here completely as a supportive role, it’s a police lead investigation and operation, and they are here to provide that additional support.”“The military are here completely as a supportive role, it’s a police lead investigation and operation, and they are here to provide that additional support.”
He added: “We have to work on the assumption that this is a professionally prepared drone with the intent of causing the disruption that it has.”He added: “We have to work on the assumption that this is a professionally prepared drone with the intent of causing the disruption that it has.”
A few people have welcomed the disruption including this traveller in Sevilla..A few people have welcomed the disruption including this traveller in Sevilla..
@bbcsoutheast @Gatwick_Airport @easyJet Stuck in Seville due to Drone attacks at Gatwick! It’s awesome 😎 Can’t complain 😂 #chinup #DroneGate #bbcnews #stranded #GatwickDrones #GatwickAirport #dronesgatwick pic.twitter.com/FlP22LgB01@bbcsoutheast @Gatwick_Airport @easyJet Stuck in Seville due to Drone attacks at Gatwick! It’s awesome 😎 Can’t complain 😂 #chinup #DroneGate #bbcnews #stranded #GatwickDrones #GatwickAirport #dronesgatwick pic.twitter.com/FlP22LgB01
Detective Chief Superintendent Jason Tingley added there have been over 50 sightings of a drone near Gatwick Airport since last night.Detective Chief Superintendent Jason Tingley added there have been over 50 sightings of a drone near Gatwick Airport since last night.
There have not yet been any arrests over the disruption.There have not yet been any arrests over the disruption.
Officers believe the aircraft is “larger than a domestic drone”.Officers believe the aircraft is “larger than a domestic drone”.
Speaking outside the South Terminal, Mr Tingley said: “We don’t know what the drone specification is.Speaking outside the South Terminal, Mr Tingley said: “We don’t know what the drone specification is.
“Our working assumption is it’s larger than what someone might buy online, we think it may have been adapted and developed.“Our working assumption is it’s larger than what someone might buy online, we think it may have been adapted and developed.
“We’re working through CCTV footage and trying to identify the make and model.”“We’re working through CCTV footage and trying to identify the make and model.”
Det Ch Supt Jason Tingley said that firearms could be used to shoot down the drone.Det Ch Supt Jason Tingley said that firearms could be used to shoot down the drone.
Mr Tingley said the use of firearms “will be within our suite of tactical options available to us going forward”.Mr Tingley said the use of firearms “will be within our suite of tactical options available to us going forward”.
“The assessment earlier on today was that we wouldn’t be using firearms and capability to deal with the drone.“The assessment earlier on today was that we wouldn’t be using firearms and capability to deal with the drone.
“This is a continually reviewed process so you will know and have seen that we have firearms officers deployed today.”“This is a continually reviewed process so you will know and have seen that we have firearms officers deployed today.”
Chris Woodroofe, Gatwick’s chief operating officer, added that contingency plans were being considered including to cancel flights tomorrow.Chris Woodroofe, Gatwick’s chief operating officer, added that contingency plans were being considered including to cancel flights tomorrow.
He said:He said:
“I think what’s clear from the last 24 hours is that drones are a UK aviation issue, or even an international aviation issue.“I think what’s clear from the last 24 hours is that drones are a UK aviation issue, or even an international aviation issue.
“We have had the police, we have had the military seeking to bring this drone down for the last 24 hours and to date that has not been successful.“We have had the police, we have had the military seeking to bring this drone down for the last 24 hours and to date that has not been successful.
“So Gatwick Airport is still closed, it’s closed for the rest of this evening and our intention is to review on an ongoing basis whether we can open tomorrow.“So Gatwick Airport is still closed, it’s closed for the rest of this evening and our intention is to review on an ongoing basis whether we can open tomorrow.
“But we are working up contingency plans all the way through to no flights tomorrow.”“But we are working up contingency plans all the way through to no flights tomorrow.”
Gatwick will remain closed for the rest of the night after drone activity was reported “within the last hour”, its chief operating officer Chris Woodroofe said.Gatwick will remain closed for the rest of the night after drone activity was reported “within the last hour”, its chief operating officer Chris Woodroofe said.
“We will review overnight whether there is any potential to open tomorrow,” he added.“We will review overnight whether there is any potential to open tomorrow,” he added.
“The last 24 hours have been very difficult for the airport. 120,00 passengers were due to fly out between 9pm last night when we closed the airport and today and those passengers have not flown anywhere because we have drone activity. Within the last hour we have had drone activity.“The last 24 hours have been very difficult for the airport. 120,00 passengers were due to fly out between 9pm last night when we closed the airport and today and those passengers have not flown anywhere because we have drone activity. Within the last hour we have had drone activity.
“But let’s be clear, my apologies to all those passengers who have seen this disruption from the criminal activity of these people who are purposely disrupting our airport and their travel so close to Christmas.”“But let’s be clear, my apologies to all those passengers who have seen this disruption from the criminal activity of these people who are purposely disrupting our airport and their travel so close to Christmas.”
The number of cancelled flights today now stands at 657 out of 760 that were scheduled.The number of cancelled flights today now stands at 657 out of 760 that were scheduled.
Further disruption is expected tomorrow sadly with Gatwick advising passengers not to come to the airport.Further disruption is expected tomorrow sadly with Gatwick advising passengers not to come to the airport.
Police are continuing their investigation to try and find the operator of the drones that have brought Gatwick to a standstill for around 24 hours.
#GatwickDrones | Earlier we appealed for information. We thank everyone for their help but we ask that information shared with us is focused on the identity or location of the #drone operator. We are employing all available options to deal with the drone.
Extra staff will be at Gatwick during the night on patrol to assist vulnerable passengers including those with young children and the elderly.
The airport said that water is being handed out throughout the terminals while food and drinks outlets are being stocked up with fresh supplies.
The heating will remain turned on throughout the night.
They added that train ticket restrictions have been lifted and passengers with tickets for Thursday can use them tomorrow.
Carl and Lisa McCluskey and their two young daughters, from Lincolnshire, are among the stranded passengers preparing to spend the night in the terminal after hotels in the area became fully booked.
The couple found out from an air stewardess that their flight to Egypt was delayed until further notice.
Mr McCluskey, 44, said: “It’s mindless idiots probably, they know what they’re doing to hundreds of thousands of people.
“They would have seen the disruption to come out again this afternoon.”
The family said their two-week trip cost about £6,500.
Travel update: Ryanair flights scheduled to operate to/from London Gatwick tomorrow (21 Dec) will instead operate to/from London Stansted. All affected customers have been notified by our Customer Care team https://t.co/96cDH8V0oJ
Gatwick has advised passengers not to come to the airport for the foreseeable future including tomorrow, Sky News is reporting.
Eurocontrol’s latest update has extended the earliest time at which the airport’s runway will open to 6am tomorrow.
The drone keeps reappearing before the runway can reopen, according to Sky News.
It is coming up to 23 hours since the disruption began and the perpetrator(s) remain at large.
UPDATE: Drone was seen at 16:00 over #Gatwick, continues to re-appear each time airport tries to reopen runway, currently 633 of 760 flights today have been cancelled, 102,000 passengers affected
Here is the latest statement from the airport:
“Gatwick Airport’s runway remains unavailable because of continued drone sightings and some airlines have cancelled all flights.
“There is significant disruption at Gatwick today as a result of what appears to be a deliberate attempt to disrupt flights, and we anticipate disruption to continue into tomorrow.
“We are extremely disappointed that passengers are being affected by this especially at such an important time of year. We are working with our airlines to put plans in place to recover our operations once given the go ahead to re-open our runway.
“We are prioritising the welfare of those at the airport by deploying staff into our terminals to look after people as best we can.
“Once again, we apologise to our passengers for the continued disruption. Safety is our absolute priority.”
📢 Have you been affected by the #drones at Gatwick today ✈️? If your travel plans have been changed, we’ve made the following arrangements to help get you on the move without any further hassle.ℹ️Latest info here👉 https://t.co/wvJZWLoSGt pic.twitter.com/A7XSUYJJ53
At Athens International Airport, EasyJet passengers are furious that they were not informed earlier of flight cancellations in contrast to those flying domestically in the UK.
Passengers on the 1:10 PM flight to Gatwick learned more than seven hours after check-ins closed that the flight had been indefinitely suspended after being told initially it had only been delayed by an hour.
One traveller said:
By the time my daughter woke up she had been informed her flight from Edinburgh to Gatwick today had been cancelled while here we were told to get to the airport and endure the wait.”
Passengers were offered a 4.60 euro refreshment coupon as they endured what airport operators were calling “an open delay.”
An EasyJet manager has predicted that Gatwick was likely to be in chaos for several days given the backlog of flights throughout Europe.
What we have seen has made us ask what if the same thing happened in Athens,” he said expressing fears of a coordinated drone disruption across Europe.