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| Gatwick disruption: 'no idea' when airport will reopen as police still trying to catch drones – live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The ripple effects of Gatwick’s closure are being felt across Europe. An EasyJet manager in Athens confirmed that tonight’s EasyJet flight out of the Greek capital has been cancelled indefinitely. | |
| Hundreds of passengers, including me, are still waiting to board the airline’s earlier flight now delayed by over two hours. | |
| “It is a very tricky situation,” the manager told the Guardian. “When they find out who owns these drones and why they are doing it the punishment will be serious.” | |
| The European aviation agency Eurocontrol says flights at Gatwick will be cancelled until at least 5pm. | |
| More than 16 and half hours after a drone was first spotted at Gatwick it has still not be disabled. | |
| Det Supt Juliet Parker of Sussex and Surrey olice has defended the police operation. | |
| Speaking to the BBC, she said: “We’ve committed a lot of resources to this. Progress may seem like it is slow, but we are doing everything we can with Gatwick to resolve this with the safety of the public absolutely paramount.” | |
| When asked whether the airport would be open soon, she said: “At the moment, until we can guarantee it’s absolutely safe, then this is the right thing to do at this time.” | |
| When asked about the laws banning drone flights near airports, she said: “I’m sure it is something that will be reviewed with the right people around the table.” | |
| Parker told Channel 4 News that an act of terrorism could not be ruled out. | |
| Detective Superintendent Juliet Parker from Surrey & Sussex joint ops police force tells us “it’s wrong to speculate about terrorism but it is an open question” she says drone not linked to terrorism at this time but is also not ruling it out | |
| A Labour MP has called on the government to make an urgent statement in parliament on the disruption at Gatwick. | |
| Ian Murray said many of his Edinburgh South constituents were stuck at the airport south of London due to the problem, and called for a minister to come to the House of Commons and address the subject, outlining the sanctions for illegally flying such vehicles, which he said “could endanger the lives of hundreds of people”. | |
| In response, Andrea Leadsom, the leader of the Commons, said it was “awful for passengers”, and highlighted legislation the government passed to deal with “those who seek to interfere with a plane with a drone”. | |
| Leadsom said offenders face up to five years in prison and unlimited fines, but added that after the current incident “we have to do more”. | |
| A passenger waiting to fly at Gatwick, who asked to remain anonymous, captured staff at Hamleys keeping some children entertained | |
| With hundreds of flights delayed and thousands of people waiting, listening desperately to any little piece of information that comes through their phones, some good needs to be seen. The staff at Hamleys in the north terminal are absolute legends. They’ve been keeping the cheer going, and the young ones entertained and the spirit of the airport has been lifted. | |
| We are blown away with how Gatwick security and the police are handling this situation. Keeping the airport shut is very frustrating, but they’ve really made it clear the importance of everyone’s safety. What comes across as a ‘tiny drone’ could easily turn into a Christmas nightmare if the police didn’t treat this as seriously as they have been. We are in no rush at this stage so just waiting for it to come to an end.” | |
| Another woman who gave her name as Mrs Morris, from Hertfordshire, and her two sons, Sam, 10, and Daniel, 14, had just disembarked a British Airways flight that was to go to Fort Lauderdale after sitting on the plane since 10am. | |
| The flight was delayed from 9am and we had been sitting patiently onboard with only half a glass of water being offered to us. Daniel is annoyed to not be going anywhere fast since waking up at 4am, and Sam said he’s ‘bored, bored, bored’, but still has 77% battery on his iPad so there’s been no parental pressure on reducing screen time under the circumstances. I on the other hand have been freezing from the aircon! | |
| The kids were still optimistic when passing through security, but it’s just been announced that the flight has been cancelled. Our bags will be unloaded and we are to disembark. We’re feeling very despondent now. Fat chance of getting away for Christmas.” | |
| A Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner flight from New York has been diverted to Doncaster Sheffield airport. | |
| The scheduled flight was diverted from Gatwick to the South Yorkshire airport, according to the flight tracking website FlightRadar24. | |
| The passenger Ben Phillips described the disruption as an “infuriating mess”. | |
| @bbcsoutheast Our Norwegian flight from JFK diverted to Sheffield Doncaster. Sitting on the tarmac with no information. What a completely infuriating mess. | @bbcsoutheast Our Norwegian flight from JFK diverted to Sheffield Doncaster. Sitting on the tarmac with no information. What a completely infuriating mess. |
| What we know so far: | What we know so far: |
| Managers at Gatwick airport have “no idea” when flights will resume after a new sighting of a drone that has disrupted all flights in and out of the airport since 9pm on Wednesday. Tens of thousands of passengers face disruption that is likely to last into the weekend. | |
| At least 760 flights have been cancelled. Chris Woodroofe, Gatwick’s chief operating officer, said: “There are 110,000 passengers due to fly today, and the vast majority of those will see cancellations and disruption.” | |
| Police are appealing for the public’s help in catching the operator of the drone. About 20 police units are searching the perimeter of the airfield. | Police are appealing for the public’s help in catching the operator of the drone. About 20 police units are searching the perimeter of the airfield. |
| Gatwick said the drone could not be shot down for fear of stray bullets harming members of the public. But police have said they are reviewing options for downing the drone. | Gatwick said the drone could not be shot down for fear of stray bullets harming members of the public. But police have said they are reviewing options for downing the drone. |
| Police said they do not believe the incident is terror related, but they do believe it is a deliberate act to disrupt the airport. | Police said they do not believe the incident is terror related, but they do believe it is a deliberate act to disrupt the airport. |
| The aviation minister, Liz Sugg, said the illegally operated drones had caused “extensive” disruption. Speaking in to the House of Lords she said: “Once this event is closed we will be working with airports to avoid such an incident in the future.” Downing Street said it was in touch with the police about the incident. | The aviation minister, Liz Sugg, said the illegally operated drones had caused “extensive” disruption. Speaking in to the House of Lords she said: “Once this event is closed we will be working with airports to avoid such an incident in the future.” Downing Street said it was in touch with the police about the incident. |
| Labour says the government has been too slow to address safety concerns about drones. Pilots have called for tougher laws against drones. | Labour says the government has been too slow to address safety concerns about drones. Pilots have called for tougher laws against drones. |
| Chris Woodroofe, Gatwick’s chief operating officer, confirmed a recent drone sighting and said he could not say when the airport would reopen, with disruption likely to last days. He told BBC News: | Chris Woodroofe, Gatwick’s chief operating officer, confirmed a recent drone sighting and said he could not say when the airport would reopen, with disruption likely to last days. He told BBC News: |
| There are 110,000 passengers due to fly today, and the vast majority of those will see cancellations and disruption. | There are 110,000 passengers due to fly today, and the vast majority of those will see cancellations and disruption. |
| We have had within the last hour another drone sighting so at this stage we are not open and I cannot tell you what time we will open. | We have had within the last hour another drone sighting so at this stage we are not open and I cannot tell you what time we will open. |
| It was on the airport, seen by the police and corroborated. So having seen that drone that close to the runway it was unsafe to reopen. | It was on the airport, seen by the police and corroborated. So having seen that drone that close to the runway it was unsafe to reopen. |
| Realistically if we do reopen today, what the airlines will seek to do is deal with the passengers who are on site and to prepare for an operation tomorrow morning where we repatriate passengers who are in the wrong place. It’s realistically going to take several days to recover. | Realistically if we do reopen today, what the airlines will seek to do is deal with the passengers who are on site and to prepare for an operation tomorrow morning where we repatriate passengers who are in the wrong place. It’s realistically going to take several days to recover. |
| Downing Street said the government was in touch with the police about the incident, although the prime minister’s official spokesman could not name which minister was taking charge of the situation. | Downing Street said the government was in touch with the police about the incident, although the prime minister’s official spokesman could not name which minister was taking charge of the situation. |
| The spokesman repeated previous police statements that there was no evidence that it was a terrorist incident, and emphasised that what happened at Gatwick was illegal. | The spokesman repeated previous police statements that there was no evidence that it was a terrorist incident, and emphasised that what happened at Gatwick was illegal. |
| “This behaviour is irresponsible and completely unacceptable,” they said. “We feel for passengers who face further disruption. These drones are being flown illegally. The law couldn’t be clearer. Those found endangering people 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.” | “This behaviour is irresponsible and completely unacceptable,” they said. “We feel for passengers who face further disruption. These drones are being flown illegally. The law couldn’t be clearer. Those found endangering people 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.” |
| About 110,000 passengers were due to fly via Gatwick on Thursday and the vast majority would see cancellations and disruptions, according to the airport’s chief operating officer, Chris Woodroofe. | About 110,000 passengers were due to fly via Gatwick on Thursday and the vast majority would see cancellations and disruptions, according to the airport’s chief operating officer, Chris Woodroofe. |
| I was booked on a Ryanair flight from Gatwick to Dublin tonight. I just got a text from Ryanair saying: “Due to Gatwick airport closure, please make your way to London Stansted where your flight will be operating.” | I was booked on a Ryanair flight from Gatwick to Dublin tonight. I just got a text from Ryanair saying: “Due to Gatwick airport closure, please make your way to London Stansted where your flight will be operating.” |
| Gatwick is not a major hub for Ryanair – Stansted is where it operates the most flights – so evidently it has found capacity to be able to shift flights and crews to Stansted instead. | Gatwick is not a major hub for Ryanair – Stansted is where it operates the most flights – so evidently it has found capacity to be able to shift flights and crews to Stansted instead. |
| Richard Gill, the founder of the company Drone Defence, which has successfully installed the anti-drone technology SkyFence around Guernsey prison, said: “The technology exists to stop this problem.” | Richard Gill, the founder of the company Drone Defence, which has successfully installed the anti-drone technology SkyFence around Guernsey prison, said: “The technology exists to stop this problem.” |
| In an email to the Guardian, he said: “SkyFence would perform equally as well in an airport situation and would actively create a ‘no-fly zone’ where the drone would not be able to fly inside the airport’s perimeter.” | In an email to the Guardian, he said: “SkyFence would perform equally as well in an airport situation and would actively create a ‘no-fly zone’ where the drone would not be able to fly inside the airport’s perimeter.” |
| Anti-drone technology could be introduced in English prisons | Anti-drone technology could be introduced in English prisons |
| EasyJet is urging its customers not to travel to Gatwick if their flights have been cancelled. | EasyJet is urging its customers not to travel to Gatwick if their flights have been cancelled. |
| In a statement it said: | In a statement it said: |
| “We advise all customers flying to and from London Gatwick today to not travel to the airport if they are on flights which have been cancelled. Customers can check the status of their flight on our flight tracker or via the app. | “We advise all customers flying to and from London Gatwick today to not travel to the airport if they are on flights which have been cancelled. Customers can check the status of their flight on our flight tracker or via the app. |
| “We are making every effort to get people to their destination at this important time of the year. Customers on cancelled flights today will be entitled to a free of charge transfer to an alternative flight and hotel accommodation if required. We will also reimburse any reasonable expenses incurred by passengers who arrange their own comparable alternative transport. | “We are making every effort to get people to their destination at this important time of the year. Customers on cancelled flights today will be entitled to a free of charge transfer to an alternative flight and hotel accommodation if required. We will also reimburse any reasonable expenses incurred by passengers who arrange their own comparable alternative transport. |
| “Whilst the situation is outside of our control we would like to apologise to passengers for the inconvenience caused by the diversions and resultant delays and cancellations. | “Whilst the situation is outside of our control we would like to apologise to passengers for the inconvenience caused by the diversions and resultant delays and cancellations. |
| “The safety of its passengers and crew is the airline’s highest priority.” | “The safety of its passengers and crew is the airline’s highest priority.” |
| Here’s more from the response the aviation minister, Liz Sugg, gave to the Lords. | Here’s more from the response the aviation minister, Liz Sugg, gave to the Lords. |
| Sussex police are in the lead and have officers on the ground. They are doing everything they can to locate the drone and its operators. All relevant parts of government including the Department for Transport, Home Office and the Ministry of Defence, are involved in the response. And we are doing everything we can. I’m afraid it is an ongoing police investigation and I’m not able to confirm the details at this time. | Sussex police are in the lead and have officers on the ground. They are doing everything they can to locate the drone and its operators. All relevant parts of government including the Department for Transport, Home Office and the Ministry of Defence, are involved in the response. And we are doing everything we can. I’m afraid it is an ongoing police investigation and I’m not able to confirm the details at this time. |
| We are absolutely working with manufacturers and retailers to ensure that these rules are communicated with people who purchase drones. And from November people will need to register their drone and take an online safety test. | We are absolutely working with manufacturers and retailers to ensure that these rules are communicated with people who purchase drones. And from November people will need to register their drone and take an online safety test. |
| We have also recently consulted on extending police powers and will be making announcements on the next steps on that very shortly.” | We have also recently consulted on extending police powers and will be making announcements on the next steps on that very shortly.” |
| In answer to a frustrated Lord – many of the peers said they had relatives stuck at airports as a result of the disruption – Sugg said: | In answer to a frustrated Lord – many of the peers said they had relatives stuck at airports as a result of the disruption – Sugg said: |
| We are working closely with manufacturers on counter-drone technology. We are working closely with the Home Office both on the technological side of counter-drone technology but also on the physical side too. | We are working closely with manufacturers on counter-drone technology. We are working closely with the Home Office both on the technological side of counter-drone technology but also on the physical side too. |
| We work carefully with airports on all their operational contingency plans, the priority is safety. Once this event is closed we will be working with airports to avoid such an incident in the future. | We work carefully with airports on all their operational contingency plans, the priority is safety. Once this event is closed we will be working with airports to avoid such an incident in the future. |
| I am in no way complacent about this issue. We have been working incredibly hard on it all morning. We have also taken clear action this year, both introducing exclusion zones, bringing in laws to ensure that drones aren’t flown over 400ft. And we have consulted on extending police powers. | I am in no way complacent about this issue. We have been working incredibly hard on it all morning. We have also taken clear action this year, both introducing exclusion zones, bringing in laws to ensure that drones aren’t flown over 400ft. And we have consulted on extending police powers. |
| I don’t have details on the specific rehearsals for this, but I will look into that.” | I don’t have details on the specific rehearsals for this, but I will look into that.” |
| “It’s chaos,” says Sofia the pilot on Instagram as she waits to fly an empty passenger jet from Stockholm’s Arlanda airport to London. | “It’s chaos,” says Sofia the pilot on Instagram as she waits to fly an empty passenger jet from Stockholm’s Arlanda airport to London. |
| The aviation minister, Liz Sugg, has updated the House of Lords on the incident. | The aviation minister, Liz Sugg, has updated the House of Lords on the incident. |
| She said: | She said: |
| The disruption that these drones have caused is extensive and it’s an ongoing operation. We are in close contact with Gatwick airport as they work with the police to safely resolve the situation as quickly as possible. These drones have been flown illegally and anyone endangering an aircraft could face up to five years in jail. | The disruption that these drones have caused is extensive and it’s an ongoing operation. We are in close contact with Gatwick airport as they work with the police to safely resolve the situation as quickly as possible. These drones have been flown illegally and anyone endangering an aircraft could face up to five years in jail. |
| We absolutely need to make sure that we introduce new laws to ensure that drones are used safely and responsibly. Earlier this year we brought in a law that makes it illegal to fly within a kilometre of an airport and above 400ft. | We absolutely need to make sure that we introduce new laws to ensure that drones are used safely and responsibly. Earlier this year we brought in a law that makes it illegal to fly within a kilometre of an airport and above 400ft. |
| We are also introducing a registration system which will include a mandatory safety check before you are able to fly your drone. | We are also introducing a registration system which will include a mandatory safety check before you are able to fly your drone. |
| I am not able to give a further comment. It does seem as though they are being used intentionally to disrupt the airport. This is an ongoing investigation. | I am not able to give a further comment. It does seem as though they are being used intentionally to disrupt the airport. This is an ongoing investigation. |