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Gatwick airport: flights suspended again due to 'suspected drone sighting' – live
Gatwick airport: flights resume after 'suspected drone sighting' caused more disruption – live
(35 minutes later)
One passenger is edging closer to home for Christmas..
Currently onboard our diverted Gatwick flight from Turin (following a cancellation yesterday). We have landed in Birmingham and are waiting on news from the pilot... ALMOST home from Christmas👍🏼 pic.twitter.com/eunWROTORd
Professor Hitoshi Nasu, an expert in international law and new technologies from the University of Exeter Law School, said criminalisation may not be enough to deter rogue drone operators.
This demonstrates the disruptive potential of drones and difficulties in identifying malicious operators.
Criminalising the conduct may not be sufficient deterrence.
It is a wake-up call for us to step up the efforts to protect ourselves from malicious use of drone technology.
This could include technological solutions, regulatory measures such as registration and permit requirement, or the use of physical force.
I am sure police will be looking at all the options available and considering what needs to be done.
EasyJet is continuing to advise travellers to check their flight status before making the journey to Gatwick.
We continue to advise all customers flying to and from London Gatwick today to check the status of their flight on our Flight Tracker https://t.co/Pcq4p8oRYK or via the app, before coming to the airport.
Gatwick reopens
Flights have now resumed. Airfield movements were suspended while we investigated this as safety remains our main priority. The military measures we have in place at the airport have provided us with reassurance necessary to re-open our airfield.
Gatwick has announced that flights have resumed after a one-hour suspension.
A spokeswoman said that operators were reassured that military measures now in place meant it was safe to fly despite a “confirmed sighting of a drone”.
A Sussex police statement said: “Gatwick airport have advised us that airfield operations have been suspended for safety reasons while reports of renewed drone activity are investigated.
“Sussex police is supporting the airport and is proactively deploying significant resources to seek and locate the drone and its operator and to ensure the safety of the travelling public and all those in and around the airport.”
📢✈️Flights at Gatwick have been suspended. You are strongly advised to not travel without checking with your airline first. ℹ️👉https://t.co/p7bCiwyTlc
📢✈️Flights at Gatwick have been suspended. You are strongly advised to not travel without checking with your airline first. ℹ️👉https://t.co/p7bCiwyTlc
Passengers heading to Gatwick have been advised by rail operators to check with their airline before making the journey to the airport.
Passengers heading to Gatwick have been advised by rail operators to check with their airline before making the journey to the airport.
📢✈️Flights at Gatwick have been suspended. You are strongly advised to not travel without checking with your airline first. ℹ️👉https://t.co/AFfxMwl4Y7
📢✈️Flights at Gatwick have been suspended. You are strongly advised to not travel without checking with your airline first. ℹ️👉https://t.co/AFfxMwl4Y7
Eleven flights bound for Gatwick have been diverted so far including aBritish Airways flight from Jersey which was re-directed to Bournemouth International Airport, which landed at 18:05.
Eleven flights bound for Gatwick have been diverted so far including a British Airways flight from Jersey which was redirected to Bournemouth International airport, which landed at 18:05.
Noise pollution campaigners have hit back at abuse they attracted for branding the Gatwick drone disruption an “early Christmas present”.
Noise pollution campaigners have hit back at abuse they attracted for branding the Gatwick drone disruption an “early Christmas present”.
Community Against Gatwick Noise Emissions (CAGNE), which campaigns against the airport’s busy flight paths, said it was not responsible for the chaos and did not condone the behaviour.
Community Against Gatwick Noise Emissions (CAGNE), which campaigns against the airport’s busy flight paths, said it was not responsible for the chaos and did not condone the behaviour.
But it did welcome the peace and quiet in the countryside when planes were grounded, prompting abusive messages online and accusations they were behind the incident.
But it did welcome the peace and quiet in the countryside when planes were grounded, prompting abusive messages online and accusations they were behind the incident.
Sally Pavey, chairwoman of CAGNE, said:
Sally Pavey, chairwoman of CAGNE, said:
With no aircraft flying, it’s been a glimpse of how it used to be - tranquillity. It’s been a bit of respite for us but that doesn’t mean we condone this behaviour.
With no aircraft flying, it’s been a glimpse of how it used to be - tranquillity. It’s been a bit of respite for us but that doesn’t mean we condone this behaviour.
“We really sympathise with these people who have had their plans disrupted. It’s a horrendous position to find themselves in.”
“We really sympathise with these people who have had their plans disrupted. It’s a horrendous position to find themselves in.”
She called for better legislation to protect airports from disruption from drones.
She called for better legislation to protect airports from disruption from drones.
A police spokesman said flights from Gatwick had been suspended for safety reasons following “unconfirmed reports” of another drone sighting.
A police spokesman said flights from Gatwick had been suspended for safety reasons following “unconfirmed reports” of another drone sighting.
I’m in Gatwick’s south terminal, trying to get to Sydney on a China Airlines flight.
I’m in Gatwick’s south terminal, trying to get to Sydney on a China Airlines flight.
After waiting for 90 minutes, we were told that the only plane they have in the terminal - which was supposed to have left on Wednesday at 9:15pm - is now full.
After waiting for 90 minutes, we were told that the only plane they have in the terminal - which was supposed to have left on Wednesday at 9:15pm - is now full.
Just as we were taken to the service desk to be rebooked onto another flight, for tomorrow or later, we heard that the drone had returned.
Just as we were taken to the service desk to be rebooked onto another flight, for tomorrow or later, we heard that the drone had returned.
The airport, which was fairly empty when we arrived, had started to fill up by 5:30pm, when the drone returned, but there’s not yet a sense of total shutdown here, even though current estimates are that flights will be “regulated” until 9pm.
The airport, which was fairly empty when we arrived, had started to fill up by 5:30pm, when the drone returned, but there’s not yet a sense of total shutdown here, even though current estimates are that flights will be “regulated” until 9pm.
What there is is a significantly increased police presence from the norm, and a lot of airport staff handing out phone numbers for hotlines that don’t work because of the high load of calls.
What there is is a significantly increased police presence from the norm, and a lot of airport staff handing out phone numbers for hotlines that don’t work because of the high load of calls.
Frustratingly, at least for our carrier, the airlines seem loth to rebook passengers on flights leaving from other airports, instead attempting to encourage people to hold on for the next flight out.
Frustratingly, at least for our carrier, the airlines seem loth to rebook passengers on flights leaving from other airports, instead attempting to encourage people to hold on for the next flight out.
In the 20 minutes since the drone reappeared, there’s now noticeably more movement in the airport, though not in any of the check-in queues.
In the 20 minutes since the drone reappeared, there’s now noticeably more movement in the airport, though not in any of the check-in queues.
Trains continue to disgorge passengers into the checkin area, though it doesn’t look like they’re going to have any luck tonight.
Trains continue to disgorge passengers into the checkin area, though it doesn’t look like they’re going to have any luck tonight.
Aircraft have been circling the skies over the airport as they are currently unable to land. The last take off was at 16:54 and the last landing was at 16:59.
Aircraft have been circling the skies over the airport as they are currently unable to land. The last take off was at 16:54 and the last landing was at 16:59.
The sighting of the drone occurred at around 17:10.
The sighting of the drone occurred at around 17:10.
Officers still do not know who was behind the disruption but have identified “persons of interest”.
Officers still do not know who was behind the disruption but have identified “persons of interest”.
It is the worst possible news for travellers preparing for the Christmas getaway following the 36-hour shutdown from Wednesday night.
The airport had reopened at around 6am on Friday with the majority of the 126,000 passengers getting on flights.
But we now have a recurrence of the disruption, fingers crossed flights will resume as soon as possible.
We are restarting our live blog on the disruption after Gatwick airport announced it is “temporarily suspending” its airfield operations following reports that a drone has been sighted again.
A Gatwick spokeswoman said flights were suspended due to a “suspected drone sighting”.
Flights bound for Gatwick are also on hold.
Gatwick is investigating reports of a drone sighting. As a precaution we have suspended airfield operations. More to follow.
We’re wrapping up our blog, although you’ll see us pop up again should any fresh sightings of the drone or drones cast doubts on continued operations at Gatwick or other airports. Good luck to anyone trying to fly home for Christmas.
Here’s a summary:
• Gatwick’s runway has reopened and a limited number of planes have arrived and departed, after the airport was shut for almost 36 hours by drone sightings overhead.The airport said “additional mitigating measures” put in place by the police and military were allowing planes to fly again, although at least 100 of the 753 scheduled flights on Friday were due to be cancelled, with planes and crews out of place, and many had already been delayed.
• Military equipment is being used to stop further drone disruption at Gatwick Airport as Transport Secretary Chris Grayling insisted passengers are safe despite the operator not being caught. Grayling revealed patrols were taking place around other airports in the UK “to watch for any other incidents”.
• Police have said that there are ‘persons of interest’ in their investigation, which is working on the theory there is more than one drone, although the last sighting was at around 10pm on Thursday. Assistant Chief Constable Steve Barry said measures to tackle the threat include “technical, sophisticated options to detect and mitigate drone incursions, all the way down to less sophisticated options - even shotguns would be available to officers should the opportunity present itself.”
• Millions of people are embarking on a Christmas getaway amid warnings of disruption to road, rail and air travel. Drivers are being advised to defer journeys until after 7.30pm if possible as delays of up to nearly two hours are expected on popular routes. The M25, M6 and M40 will be the worst traffic hotspots, according to research by the RAC and transport data firm Inrix.
The Labour Party is turning fire on the government over the drones, accusing Transport Secretary Chris Grayling of a “lack of leadership,”
The shadow transport secretary, Andy McDonald said:
We’re all relieved that Gatwick has reopened, but the Government now needs to admit that the chaos of the past two days was a consequence of its own failures.
The Government has neither understood nor fully assessed the risk posed by drones to the UK’s national infrastructure. It has not undertaken anything like appropriate contingency planning. And it has not prepared properly, despite protective technology being available.
It’s obvious that drones should not be able to get anywhere near an airport before being taken down. But the Government has dithered and delayed on regulating drones.
Police are working on the theory there is more than one drone, although the last sighting was at around 10pm on Thursday.
Speaking during the press conference in the last half an hour, Assistant chief constable Steve Barry said measures to tackle the threat include: “technical, sophisticated options to detect and mitigate drone incursions, all the way down to less sophisticated options - even shotguns would be available to officers should the opportunity present itself.”
He added: “In terms of motivation there is a whole spectrum of possibilities, from the really high end criminal behaviour all the way down to just individuals trying to be malicious.”
Press still very keen at Gatwick ACC Steve Barry in the midst of it pic.twitter.com/2a7IO1i3WB
A press conference has kicked off at Gatwick, where the police say that there are “persons of interest”. Frances Perraudin is there for the Guardian:
Assistant chief constable Steve Barry says there are persons of interest in the drones investigation at Gatwick pic.twitter.com/b4zmu16nKr
Some more tales of woe now from Gatwick. David Sowter, 79, set off on his journey to visit his daughter in Jersey for Christmas at 5am on Wednesday morning, driving first to Jacksonville in Florida and flying to Fort Lauderdale in order to catch a connection to Gatwick.
But following the drone sightings his flight was unable to land in London and so was diverted to Paris. After sitting on the runway for four hours, he was put on a bus to Calais and a ferry to Dover. He arrived at Gatwick at 5am on Friday morning. His flight to Jersey is now scheduled to leave at 7pm.
He doesn’t have a smart phone and so has been unable to following the unfolding situation with drone sightings. “I’ve got a flip phone. My daughter in Jersey doesn’t even know where I am,” he said. His plans for the rest of the day at Gatwick mainly involve drinking beer. “I already had two at breakfast this morning,” he said. “I had a proper English breakfast with two pints of Guinness.”
Taxi driver Paul Richardson and his family are waiting to get on a delayed flight to Tenerife for his 50th birthday. “We were following it yesterday, but we thought that by now it would have been done and dusted,” he said. “I just want to know where it’s coming from. Who’s doing it?” said his daughter Elle-May of the drones. “Who’s laughing at us?”
“What people don’t understand is how many people it affects,” she said. “Obviously it affects us the travelers but it also affects the people who work here. We’re lucky that we’re all together. Imagine if you were visiting family who were waiting for you.”
The Richardson family also plan to pass the time at Gatwick drinking.
“There’s no point worrying about something you can’t change,” said Karen, Paul’s wife. “We might as well start early and enjoy ourselves.” The family’s spirits have not been dampened yet. “The holiday is going to be fantastic,” said Paul. “I’ve got all my family with me –my girl, my boy. They haven’t been away with us for five years so it’s going to be lovely.”
David Sowter, 79, set off on his journey to visit his daughter in Jersey for Christmas at 5am on Wednesday morning. “I left home and drove to Jacksonville, Florida. Then I flew from there to Fort Lauderdale and got on a Norwegian Air flight to Gatwick,” he told the Guardian.
Following the drone sightings his flight was unable to land in London and so was diverted to Paris. After sitting on the runway for four hours, he was put on a bus to Calais and a ferry to Dover. He arrived at Gatwick at 5am on Friday morning. His flight to Jersey is now scheduled to leave at 7pm.
He doesn’t have a smart phone and so has been unable to following the unfolding situation with drone sightings. “I’ve got a flip phone. My daughter in Jersey doesn’t even know where I am,” he said. His plans for the rest of the day at Gatwick mainly involve drinking beer. “I already had two at breakfast this morning,” he said. “I had a proper English breakfast with two pints of Guinness.”
Taxi driver Paul Richardson and his family are waiting to get on a delayed flight to Tenerife for his 50th birthday. “We were following it yesterday, but we thought that by now it would have been done and dusted,” he said.
“I just want to know where it’s coming from. Who’s doing it?” said his daughter Elle-May of the drones. “Who’s laughing at us?
“What people don’t understand is how many people it affects. Obviously it affects us the travellers but it also affects the people who work here. We’re lucky that we’re all together. Imagine if you were visiting family who were waiting for you.”
The Richardson family also plan to pass the time at Gatwick drinking. “There’s no point worrying about something you can’t change,”said Karen, Paul’s wife. “We might as well start early and enjoy ourselves.”
The family’s spirits have not been dampened yet. “The holiday is going to be fantastic,” said Paul. “I’ve got all my family with me: my girl, my boy. They haven’t been away with us for five years so it’s going to be lovely.”
A total of 91 of 412 scheduled arrivals have been cancelled, according to Gatwick spokesman, while 64 of 371 scheduled departures have been cancelled.
He added that “significant” numbers of flights are arriving and departing and advised passengers to check with their airline.
In comparison to the assurances given by Gatwick Airport authorities and the government, quite a different tone is coming from the pilots’ union who have said on Twitter that it remains “extremely concerned” at the risk of a drone collision.
BALPA remains extremely concerned at the risk of a drone collision. It is possible that the rogue drones may go undetected around the perimeter or could obstruct the flight paths outside the immediate detection zone. (5/7)
