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Ministers discuss Gatwick drone drama as suspects released Gatwick 'no drone' police comment 'miscommunicated'
(about 1 hour later)
The Gatwick Airport drone drama which grounded hundreds of flights has been discussed by ministers in a Christmas Eve conference call. The suggestion there may not have been any drones at Gatwick Airport was a "miscommunication by police", a government source has told the BBC.
Sussex Police insisted it was not "back to square one" after releasing an arrested man and woman without charge. During a conference call between ministers, chaired by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, it was agreed the 67 drone sightings were legitimate.
It said it was investigating 67 drone sightings but had earlier raised the possibility there may have been no drone at all. The airport has spent £5m since Wednesday on new equipment and technology to prevent copycat attacks.
Gatwick said there had been "multiple sightings" of the equipment. About 1,000 flights were affected during the airport's 36 hours of chaos.
Around 1,000 flights were cancelled or diverted across three days last week after drones were reportedly spotted inside the perimeter of the UK's second biggest airport. Sussex Police has insisted it was not "back to square one" after releasing an arrested man, 47, and woman, 54, without charge on Sunday.
A 47-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman were released on Sunday after two nights in custody. Ministers were briefed on the latest situation in the hour-long call which included David Liddington for the Cabinet Office, the Home Secretary Sajid Javid, Security Minister Ben Wallace, Aviation Minister Baroness Sugg and a Defence minister.
The airport has offered a £50,000 reward, through Crimestoppers, and another £10,000 has been put up by the charity's chairman Lord Ashcroft to catch the culprits responsible for the chaos, which affected some 140,000 passengers. A government source said police accepted that there had been "poor communications".
Det Ch Supt Jason Tingley said he hoped the money will persuade someone to come forward with the vital clue. It is understood the Cabinet Office "pushed" the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office to update their rapid deployment protocol.
He said at the weekend it was a "possibility" there had never been a drone, as police had not been able to acquire any footage. They also discussed defence systems across the UK's airports, after discussions were had with all airport CEOs on Friday.
But he later clarified: "We are interviewing those who have reported these sightings, are carrying out extensive house-to-house inquiries and carrying out a forensic examination of a damaged drone found near the perimeter of the airport near Horley, which is close to the last reported sighting." Det Ch Supt Jason Tingley said at the weekend it was a "possibility" there had never been a drone, as police had not been able to acquire any footage.
He said there were some "persons of interest" but would not reveal if police were close to making any further arrests. Asked about this, he said: "We are working with human beings saying they have seen something."
Ministers discussed the disruption in a conference call, a government source confirmed. He later clarified the force was "actively investigating" 67 reports of sightings and there were some "persons of interest" but would not reveal if officers were close to making any further arrests.
Authorities regained control over the airfield early on Friday after the Army deployed unidentified military technology. A damaged drone found near the perimeter of the airport near Horley, close to the last reported sighting, is also being examined.
An airport spokesman said: "We are clear that there were multiple confirmed sightings of drone activity at the airport. The airport has offered a £50,000 reward, through Crimestoppers, and another £10,000 has been put up by the charity's chairman Lord Ashcroft to catch the culprits responsible for the drama, which affected some 140,000 passengers.
A spokesman said: "We are clear that there were multiple confirmed sightings of drone activity at the airport.
"Therefore we took the necessary actions to ensure the safety of passengers using our airport. Safety will always be our number one priority."Therefore we took the necessary actions to ensure the safety of passengers using our airport. Safety will always be our number one priority.
"We continue to support the police with their investigations into this illegal and deliberate act to disrupt the airport's operations.""We continue to support the police with their investigations into this illegal and deliberate act to disrupt the airport's operations."
Authorities regained control over the airfield early on Friday after the Army deployed unidentified military technology.
It is believed that the Israeli-developed Drone Dome system, which can jam communications between the drone and its operator, was used.It is believed that the Israeli-developed Drone Dome system, which can jam communications between the drone and its operator, was used.
However, experts have said it does not enable the person responsible to be tracked down and captured.However, experts have said it does not enable the person responsible to be tracked down and captured.
John Murray, professor of robotics and autonomous systems at the University of Hull, said it could only "take the drone out of the sky".John Murray, professor of robotics and autonomous systems at the University of Hull, said it could only "take the drone out of the sky".