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| Gatwick runway reopens after drone chaos | Gatwick runway reopens after drone chaos |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Gatwick's runway has reopened after drones caused the airport to shut down for more than a day. | Gatwick's runway has reopened after drones caused the airport to shut down for more than a day. |
| The airport, the UK's second busiest, said 765 flights were scheduled for departure and arrival. | The airport, the UK's second busiest, said 765 flights were scheduled for departure and arrival. |
| Boss Chris Woodroofe said police had not yet found the drone operator. Police said it was possible they were an environmental activist. | Boss Chris Woodroofe said police had not yet found the drone operator. Police said it was possible they were an environmental activist. |
| He said extra "mitigating measures" from the government and military had given him "confidence to reopen". | He said extra "mitigating measures" from the government and military had given him "confidence to reopen". |
| The airport is expected to be "back to normal" by the end of Saturday. | |
| "We are now operating at almost normal runway conditions and the challenge for the airlines, as the result of this disruption, is that their planes are not all in the right place," Mr Woodroofe said. | |
| "So what we'll be doing today is recovering their operations so by tomorrow we are back to standard operation and continue to recover the situation for our passengers." | |
| Thousands of passengers remain stranded at Gatwick as police continue their search for those responsible for the chaos, which started on Wednesday night. | Thousands of passengers remain stranded at Gatwick as police continue their search for those responsible for the chaos, which started on Wednesday night. |
| The airport could not operate while the drones were in flight in case they hit and damaged a plane. | The airport could not operate while the drones were in flight in case they hit and damaged a plane. |
| Officers have so far failed to locate the "industrial specification" drones or their pilot and had been considering plans to shoot a device down. | Officers have so far failed to locate the "industrial specification" drones or their pilot and had been considering plans to shoot a device down. |
| But Steve Barry, assistant chief constable at Sussex Police, said they were in a "much better position today". | But Steve Barry, assistant chief constable at Sussex Police, said they were in a "much better position today". |
| He told BBC Breakfast there were a "number of lines of inquiry" into the "very malicious and criminal behaviour", including the possibility it could have been the work of an environmental activist. | He told BBC Breakfast there were a "number of lines of inquiry" into the "very malicious and criminal behaviour", including the possibility it could have been the work of an environmental activist. |
| Mr Barry said a drone had last been seen at 22:00 GMT on Thursday. | Mr Barry said a drone had last been seen at 22:00 GMT on Thursday. |
| Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said there was no evidence it was terror-related. | Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said there was no evidence it was terror-related. |
| But he called it a type of disruption "we've not seen before" and "lessons need to be learned". | But he called it a type of disruption "we've not seen before" and "lessons need to be learned". |
| He said the situation was "unprecedented, anywhere in the world". | He said the situation was "unprecedented, anywhere in the world". |
| "Every possible measure will be put in place to make sure this can't happen again," he said. | "Every possible measure will be put in place to make sure this can't happen again," he said. |
| But he added there was "no simple solution" and "you can't fire weapons haphazardly around an airport". | But he added there was "no simple solution" and "you can't fire weapons haphazardly around an airport". |
| Mr Woodroofe would not be drawn on what measures would be taken if a drone was spotted again. | Mr Woodroofe would not be drawn on what measures would be taken if a drone was spotted again. |
| But he said: "Additional mitigating measures provided by government agencies and military have given me the confidence to reopen the airport." | But he said: "Additional mitigating measures provided by government agencies and military have given me the confidence to reopen the airport." |
| Gatwick said the flights planned for Friday would have about 126,000 passengers on board. About 140 flights have been cancelled. | Gatwick said the flights planned for Friday would have about 126,000 passengers on board. About 140 flights have been cancelled. |
| Mr Woodroofe added: "My intention is to get those passengers to their destinations so that they can enjoy their Christmas." | Mr Woodroofe added: "My intention is to get those passengers to their destinations so that they can enjoy their Christmas." |
| At the scene: Tom Pugh, BBC South East reporter | At the scene: Tom Pugh, BBC South East reporter |
| At Gatwick Airport's South Terminal this morning, passengers waited anxiously for news on whether their flights would depart. | At Gatwick Airport's South Terminal this morning, passengers waited anxiously for news on whether their flights would depart. |
| It appears to be much quieter here today, compared to the chaotic scenes yesterday. | It appears to be much quieter here today, compared to the chaotic scenes yesterday. |
| As the West Sussex airport announced the reopening of its runway on Friday, some travellers were hopeful of getting airborne. | As the West Sussex airport announced the reopening of its runway on Friday, some travellers were hopeful of getting airborne. |
| But others expressed concern that the operators of the drone had not yet been apprehended - and could go on to cause more havoc. | But others expressed concern that the operators of the drone had not yet been apprehended - and could go on to cause more havoc. |
| All weary travellers could do was monitor the arrival and departure boards - showing many cancellations and delays to flights - and hope their Christmas getaways would not be ruined. | All weary travellers could do was monitor the arrival and departure boards - showing many cancellations and delays to flights - and hope their Christmas getaways would not be ruined. |
| The first flights in and out of Gatwick were Norwegian Air, Easyjet and BA departures and a China Eastern Airlines arrival from Shanghai. | The first flights in and out of Gatwick were Norwegian Air, Easyjet and BA departures and a China Eastern Airlines arrival from Shanghai. |
| About 120,000 people had been due to fly since the runway closed. | About 120,000 people had been due to fly since the runway closed. |
| Gatwick continues to advise passengers to check their flight status before turning up at the airport. | Gatwick continues to advise passengers to check their flight status before turning up at the airport. |
| Passengers have complained of "freezing" temperatures in the south terminal, while others found themselves stuck abroad after inbound flights were either cancelled or diverted. | Passengers have complained of "freezing" temperatures in the south terminal, while others found themselves stuck abroad after inbound flights were either cancelled or diverted. |
| Dozens of passengers contacted the BBC to say uncertainty had led them to ditch their festive travel plans or spend extra money on new flights and hotel stays. | Dozens of passengers contacted the BBC to say uncertainty had led them to ditch their festive travel plans or spend extra money on new flights and hotel stays. |
| Budget airline Ryanair said it was switching all of its Gatwick flights to operate in and out of Stansted airport on Friday. | Budget airline Ryanair said it was switching all of its Gatwick flights to operate in and out of Stansted airport on Friday. |
| What has happened? | What has happened? |
| The search for the drone | The search for the drone |
| Sussex Police has been locked in a game of cat and mouse with the drone operator since the airport shutdown began. | Sussex Police has been locked in a game of cat and mouse with the drone operator since the airport shutdown began. |
| Despite dozens of sightings, the main device, which detectives believe to have been "adapted and developed" to cause deliberate disruption, has not been found. | Despite dozens of sightings, the main device, which detectives believe to have been "adapted and developed" to cause deliberate disruption, has not been found. |
| Det Ch Supt Jason Tingley said police were re-evaluating plans for armed officers to shoot the drone down after other methods failed. | Det Ch Supt Jason Tingley said police were re-evaluating plans for armed officers to shoot the drone down after other methods failed. |
| The measure was initially dismissed over the risk posed by "stray bullets". | The measure was initially dismissed over the risk posed by "stray bullets". |
| Supt Justin Burtenshaw, head of armed policing for Sussex and Surrey, said finding the drone's operator was "a difficult and challenging" prospect. | Supt Justin Burtenshaw, head of armed policing for Sussex and Surrey, said finding the drone's operator was "a difficult and challenging" prospect. |
| "Each time we believe we get close to the operator, the drone disappears; when we look to reopen the airfield, the drone reappears," he said on Thursday. | "Each time we believe we get close to the operator, the drone disappears; when we look to reopen the airfield, the drone reappears," he said on Thursday. |
| What has happened to passengers? | What has happened to passengers? |
| Travellers have found themselves unable to fly in and out of Gatwick. | Travellers have found themselves unable to fly in and out of Gatwick. |
| Thousands have been left stranded for hours inside the airport's terminal building, resorting to sleeping on floors and benches. | Thousands have been left stranded for hours inside the airport's terminal building, resorting to sleeping on floors and benches. |
| Some who spoke to the BBC included a couple hoping to honeymoon in New York and a seven-year-old who had been due to fly to Lapland. | Some who spoke to the BBC included a couple hoping to honeymoon in New York and a seven-year-old who had been due to fly to Lapland. |
| Others have found themselves stuck abroad. | Others have found themselves stuck abroad. |
| Earlier this week, Gatwick predicted a "record-breaking" festive period, with tens of thousands of passengers expected most days. | Earlier this week, Gatwick predicted a "record-breaking" festive period, with tens of thousands of passengers expected most days. |
| Airport chief Mr Woodroofe refused to comment on the possibility of those affected by the chaos being awarded compensation. | Airport chief Mr Woodroofe refused to comment on the possibility of those affected by the chaos being awarded compensation. |
| The Civil Aviation Authority said it considered the event to be an "extraordinary circumstance", and therefore airlines were not obligated to pay any financial compensation to passengers. | The Civil Aviation Authority said it considered the event to be an "extraordinary circumstance", and therefore airlines were not obligated to pay any financial compensation to passengers. |
| But that does not mean passengers should be left out of pocket. It is the airline's responsibility to get anyone with a ticket to their destination, unless the passenger accepts a refund instead. | |
| Alex Neill, from consumer rights group Which?, said people "may still be entitled to meals, refreshments, hotel accommodation or transfers". | Alex Neill, from consumer rights group Which?, said people "may still be entitled to meals, refreshments, hotel accommodation or transfers". |
| One passenger printed off his Easyjet boarding pass only to find an advert for a drone. | One passenger printed off his Easyjet boarding pass only to find an advert for a drone. |
| He tweeted: "You couldn't make this up: the boarding pass for my maybe-cancelled Easyjet flight from #Gatwick tomorrow advertises… drones!" | He tweeted: "You couldn't make this up: the boarding pass for my maybe-cancelled Easyjet flight from #Gatwick tomorrow advertises… drones!" |
| Airports and drones: The law | Airports and drones: The law |
| It is illegal to fly a drone within 1km of an airport or airfield boundary and flying above 400ft (120m) - which increases the risk of a collision with a manned aircraft - is also banned. | It is illegal to fly a drone within 1km of an airport or airfield boundary and flying above 400ft (120m) - which increases the risk of a collision with a manned aircraft - is also banned. |
| Endangering the safety of an aircraft is a criminal offence which can carry a prison sentence of five years. | Endangering the safety of an aircraft is a criminal offence which can carry a prison sentence of five years. |
| The number of aircraft incidents involving drones has grown dramatically in the past few years, as the popularity of the devices has increased. | The number of aircraft incidents involving drones has grown dramatically in the past few years, as the popularity of the devices has increased. |
| In 2013 there were zero incidents, compared to almost 100 last year. | In 2013 there were zero incidents, compared to almost 100 last year. |
| Mr Grayling said the government was looking to "go further" with drone-control, including considering age-limits for users. | Mr Grayling said the government was looking to "go further" with drone-control, including considering age-limits for users. |
| He added: "Anyone who tries to do the same [as at Gatwick] again, should expect to go to jail for a long time." | He added: "Anyone who tries to do the same [as at Gatwick] again, should expect to go to jail for a long time." |
| Have you been affected by the suspension of flights at Gatwick Airport? Do you have any questions about your consumer rights? You can get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you been affected by the suspension of flights at Gatwick Airport? Do you have any questions about your consumer rights? You can get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |