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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2018/dec/21/gatwick-drone-airport-limited-flights-live
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| Gatwick airport: flights resume after drone sighting caused more disruption – live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A friend from Rome who is supposed to be staying with us tonight in London took off while Gatwick was open but was then diverted to Bournemouth when the airport was closed while her BA flight was en route. | |
| However, after arriving in Bournemouth, while she was trying to work out how she would get to London, the passengers were told the airport had reopened and once the plane is refuelled they will be departing for Gatwick. | |
| There must be loads of people going through a similar - and undoubtedly worse in many cases - emotional rollercoaster. She said the BA staff were very professional throughout, which is good to hear. | |
| Lord Ashcroft offering £10,000 reward for information relating to arrest and charge of drone operators | |
| I’ve offered a £10000 reward through @CrimestoppersUK for info leading to the arrest and charge of whoever is flying that drone over @Gatwick_Airport and ruining the holidays of many. Call @CrimestoppersUK at 0800 555 111 or through https://t.co/6mJtzGLnOq . Pls retweet | |
| In Europe, the ripple effects of the disruption are clearly easing despite tonight’s temporary suspension at Gatwick with EasyJet declaring its flight out of Athens has only been delayed by 37 minutes this evening. | |
| The airline however is still insisting that passengers arrive at gates at “scheduled departure time.” | |
| Still, it is an improvement on yesterday when the company insisted that all passengers turn up on time for the midday Athens-Gatwick flight even after hundreds had already been cancelled in the UK following the sightings of the dastardly drones. | |
| Passengers are still advised to check with their airline before heading to Gatwick despite flights resuming | |
| 📢Flights at Gatwick have resumed. Please check with your airline before you travel. ✈️👉https://t.co/HX9Vdd0uK5ℹ️👉https://t.co/glUUS6If7I https://t.co/BoGRuL5OBO | |
| One passenger is edging closer to home for Christmas.. | 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 | 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 |
| ProfHitoshi 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 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. | 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.” | “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 a British Airways flight from Jersey which was redirected 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”. |