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Police identify 'persons of interest' after drone disruption at Gatwick Police identify 'persons of interest' after drone disruption at Gatwick
(about 1 hour later)
Police have identified “persons of interest” in the hunt for the drone operator, or operators, who caused Gatwick to close for 36 hours, as services at the airport resumed on Friday. Police said they were investigating “persons of interest” as authorities struggled to identify who operated the drone or drones that caused Gatwick to close for 36 hours, as services at the airport resumed on Friday.
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. About 160 out of 837 scheduled flights were cancelled, allowing the majority of 126,000 passengers booked to get away as planned, albeit with slight delays, after the runway opened just before 6am.
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. There was no recurrence on Friday of the drone sightings that had put Gatwick’s runway out of action – whether or not due to the appearance of police and military with detection and jamming equipment at the airport.
The airport said the “additional mitigating measures” put in place by the police and military were allowing planes to fly again. 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 10pm on Thursday. Sussex police said several significant 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, which ran until 10pm on Thursday – disrupting or ending the travel plans of 110,000 passengers scheduled to fly that day.
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.
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.”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.”
Speaking outside Gatwick, he said measures to tackle the threat included “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”.Speaking outside Gatwick, he said measures to tackle the threat included “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.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’ union Balpa said it understood that detection and tracking equipment had 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. The pilots’ union Balpa said it understood that detection and tracking equipment had been installed around the airport perimeter, but it remained concerned about the risks. 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.”“[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 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. The transport secretary, Chris Grayling, who on Thursday said “substantial drones” had caused the chaos, said on Friday it was uncertain whether there was more than one. In the face of mounting criticism from Labour, 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.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. He said the drone incursion was unprecedented, adding: “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.
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.”
However, Labour said Grayling should take responsibility for ignoring warnings. The 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.” However, Labour and technology companies said there were options, which airports had chosen not to pay for. The shadow transport secretary, Andy McDonald, said Grayling should take responsibility for ignoring warnings.: “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, and said it could not rule out further drone disruption. The airport’s chief operating officer, Chris Woodroofe,
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”. 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”.
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. 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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