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Small number of flights resume at Gatwick after drone disruption Police identify 'persons of interest' after drone disruption at Gatwick
(about 3 hours later)
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. Police have identified “persons of interest” in the hunt for the drone operator, or operators, who caused Gatwick to close for 33 hours, as services at airport resumed on Friday.
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. About 150 out of 837 scheduled flights were cancelled after the runway opened just before 6am. The airport said “additional mitigating measures” put in place by the police and military were allowing planes to fly again. However, with planes and crews out of place many services remained cancelled or delayed.
More than 126,000 passengers were due to fly out on Friday, after 110,000 were booked on cancelled flights on Thursday. A first arrival from China landed at about 6am and the first departure, a Norwegian Airlines flight to Lapland, took off soon after.More than 126,000 passengers were due to fly out on Friday, after 110,000 were booked on cancelled flights on Thursday. A first arrival from China landed at about 6am and the first departure, a Norwegian Airlines flight to Lapland, took off soon after.
Gatwick airport drone chaos: operator not yet found but flights resume – liveGatwick airport drone chaos: operator not yet found but flights resume – live
The operator of the drone or drones had yet to be discovered, but no further sightings had been recorded since late on Thursday, the airport said. The operator of the drone or drones had yet to be discovered, but no further sightings had been recorded since 10pm on Thursday.
Sussex police said they were pursuing several lines of inquiry and an environmental protest was “a possibility”, but the force was not linking the drone or drones to terrorism. The airport’s runway was first closed after sightings at about 9pm on Wednesday. Sussex police said several lines of inquiry were being pursued and an environmental protest was “a possibility”. But police were not linking the drone or drones to terrorism. The airport’s runway was first closed after sightings at about 9pm on Wednesday.
The transport secretary, Chris Grayling, who on Thursday said “substantial drones” had caused the chaos, admitted on Friday that it was uncertain whether there was more than one. He denied he had ignored warnings, and said he was planning to hold talks with airports soon to discuss the lessons of Gatwick and try to prevent similar disruption. Assistant chief constable Steve Barry said police were working on the theory there was more than one drone, but 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.”
Pilots’ unions, opposition politicians and other aviation bodies have called for tougher measures and immediate action, including wider exclusion zones around airports. Speaking outside Gatwick, he 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”.
Police and government would not confirm what equipment was being used but photos from Gatwick suggested that military-grade drone tracking and signal jamming machines had been brought in.
The pilots unions Balpa said it understood that detection and tracking equipment had now been installed around the airport perimeter, but it remained concerned. Brian Strutton, the Balpa general secretary, said: “It is up to the relevant authorities to decide whether it is safe to reopen Gatwick given that the rogue drone is still around and may be expected to fly again.
“[We] remain 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.”
The transport secretary, Chris Grayling, who on Thursday said “substantial drones” had caused the chaos, said on Friday that it was uncertain whether there was more than one. He denied he had ignored warnings, and said he was planning to hold talks with airports soon to discuss the lessons from Gatwick and try to prevent similar disruption.
Pilots’ unions, aviation bodies and opposition politicians have called for tougher measures and immediate action, including wider exclusion zones around airports.
Grayling told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that it was “a new kind of attack” and the perpetrator would face a substantial jail sentence. He said it was unlikely to be the action of a foreign state, but was not ruling anything out.Grayling told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that it was “a new kind of attack” and the perpetrator would face a substantial jail sentence. He said it was unlikely to be the action of a foreign state, but was not ruling anything out.
Earlier, the minister had told BBC Breakfast: “There was thought to be a small number of drones but we can’t be certain if it was one or more.Earlier, the minister had told BBC Breakfast: “There was thought to be a small number of drones but we can’t be certain if it was one or more.
“It’s unprecedented in the world … We will have to learn very quickly from what happened … I intend to convene discussions with airports around the UK.”“It’s unprecedented in the world … We will have to learn very quickly from what happened … I intend to convene discussions with airports around the UK.”
He said a mixture of measures, including “military capabilities”, were in place to give passengers confidence that they could fly.He said a mixture of measures, including “military capabilities”, were in place to give passengers confidence that they could fly.
But Grayling added: “The reality is the ability to stop drones is just emerging … There certainly isn’t a straightforward, off-the-shelf, commercial solution.”But Grayling added: “The reality is the ability to stop drones is just emerging … There certainly isn’t a straightforward, off-the-shelf, commercial solution.”
He said more measures and legislation were in motion, including “tough penalties”, but insisted: “Passengers are safe. The reason the airport was closed was because the airport was not confident it was safe. They are now.” However, Labour said Grayling should take responsibility for ignoring warnings. Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald said: “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.”
Gatwick continued to advise passengers to check with their airlines before they came to the airport. The airport’s chief operating officer, Chris Woodroofe, said the airport had worked overnight to put in “additional mitigating measures” to stop the drone affecting flights.Gatwick continued to advise passengers to check with their airlines before they came to the airport. The airport’s chief operating officer, Chris Woodroofe, said the airport had worked overnight to put in “additional mitigating measures” to stop the drone affecting flights.
He would not confirm the nature of the measures – which are believed to include potentially shooting down the drone, after the appearance of police snipers on Thursday – but said it was the support of the police and military that allowed operations to resume.
“They enabled me to make the decision to reopen Gatwick airport. It demonstrated that there is an awful lot more work to be done nationally and internationally to address this risk,” he told Today.
Woodroofe said the airport had been exploring anti-drone technology for more than a year, but there was “no commercial solution licensed to operate at airports which is proven to work”.Woodroofe said the airport had been exploring anti-drone technology for more than a year, but there was “no commercial solution licensed to operate at airports which is proven to work”.
EasyJet, the largest operator at Gatwick, said: “We are making every effort to get people to their destination at this important time of the year. We are working through the detail of our flight programme to and from London Gatwick today, but we expect disruption to continue.”
It advised all customers to check the status of their flights and said it would reimburse passengers who arranged their own comparable alternative transport.
The Civil Aviation Authority said passengers were not entitled to compensation due to the extraordinary circumstances. Grayling said he would talk to the insurance industry and hoped it would take an “enlightened view” on passengers’ claims.The Civil Aviation Authority said passengers were not entitled to compensation due to the extraordinary circumstances. Grayling said he would talk to the insurance industry and hoped it would take an “enlightened view” on passengers’ claims.
• The graphic in this article was amended on 21 December 2018 because an earlier version said drones must not fly within 50 metres of crowds and built up areas. This has been corrected to say 150 metres.• The graphic in this article was amended on 21 December 2018 because an earlier version said drones must not fly within 50 metres of crowds and built up areas. This has been corrected to say 150 metres.
Gatwick airportGatwick airport
Drones (non-military)Drones (non-military)
TransportTransport
Air transportAir transport
PolicePolice
MilitaryMilitary
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