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 25 Version 26
Gatwick airport: Grayling accused of 'abject failure' over drone legislation – live Gatwick airport: Grayling accused of 'abject failure' over drone legislation – live
(35 minutes later)
Good evening everyone, this is Kate Lyons taking over the blog from my colleague Nadeem Badshah.
If you are still reading this blog at 12:45am, as many of you are, then you are either not in Britain but are fascinated by the madness of this delay, or you’re in the UK waiting to hear if you’ll be able to get your flight tomorrow, or perhaps you’re trapped in Gatwick airport, trying to sleep slumped against your luggage or hunched on an uncomfortable seat in the horrible glare of bright lights as the airport tannoy announces further delays and other non-news.
If that is you, you have my very sincere sympathy. Airports are terrible at the best of times, but when you’re trapped there for a long period, with no sense of when you’ll be able to leave, they are veritable hell-holes.
I’ll be bringing you any news as it comes through over the next little while. If you have a story, a picture or a whinge to share? Feel free to comment below, or you can get in touch with me on Twitter on @mskatelyons. I am not trapped in Gatwick, but I’m with you in spirit and in this blog.
Gatwick will remain closed until at least 6am on Friday
More than 50 sightings of the drone have been reported
Police say they will consider shooting down the drone
Travellers have been advised not to travel to Gatwick until they check their flight status
Night flight restrictions have been lifted at other airports to help ease delays
Ryanair flights will operate from London Stansted instead of Gatwick on Friday
Gisele Fenech, 43, who was travelling to Malta, was among those stranded at the airport tonight.Gisele Fenech, 43, who was travelling to Malta, was among those stranded at the airport tonight.
“We’re meeting family and it’s my daughter’s birthday today so it’s gone all wrong,” she told AFP.“We’re meeting family and it’s my daughter’s birthday today so it’s gone all wrong,” she told AFP.
“We’ve been looking forward to this for so long.“We’ve been looking forward to this for so long.
“Everyone’s trying to get home for Christmas.”“Everyone’s trying to get home for Christmas.”
A Gatwick Airport statement urged travellers not to arrive at the airport until they check with their airline if their flight is cancelled.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.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.”“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.