Gatwick airport delays: Army called in to help battle drone chaos with flights grounded for at least 33 hours
Up to 120,000 passengers affected by delays and cancellations after devices force runway closure
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The Army was called in to Gatwick to deal with rogue drones being repeatedly flown overheard in what police said was a ”deliberate” attempt to disrupt Britain’s second-busiest airport.
More than 120,000 passengers have been affected by delays and cancellations, with all flights grounded for at least 33 hours as the Christmas getaway begins.
The drone or drones first appeared at 9pm on Wednesday and by Thursday night there had been 50 reported sightings. The airport is not due to open before 6am on Friday.
Sussex Police said they were trying to identify the make and model of the flying machine and were actively considering shooting it down.
Detective Chief Superintendent Jason Tingley said the use of firearms “will be within our suite of tactical options available to us going forward”.
He added: “One of the options is to use firearms officers if that presents itself – they have been out on the ground today and that’s a consideration and a tactical option that is open to us.
“There are a number of factors in terms of range, the height of the drone and the likely impact of us firing at the drone but that is a tactical option open to the gold commander who will make a decision based on the information available to them at the time.”
Chris Woodroofe, Gatwick’s chief operating officer, said the airport could potentially remain closed for all of Friday following further drone sightings.
He said: “My apologies to all those passengers who have seen this disruption from the criminal activity from these people who are purposely disrupting our airport and their travel so close to Christmas.”
“We have had the police, we have had the military seeking to bring this drone down for the last 24 hours and to date that has not been successful so Gatwick Airport is still closed.
The government, which condemned the activity as as “incredible irresponsible”, is facing widespread calls for the urgent introduction of stronger drone laws.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said there was no known motive for the drone activity but said there was no suggestion it was related to terrorism.
To read our coverage of developments as they happened, see below
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↵"The disruption is set to get worse before it gets better," says our travel correspondent Simon Calder in his round-up of the drone-related delays at Gatwick Airport.
Now there are reports of further drone sightings and the possibility that Gatwick Airport could be closed until Saturday.
Gatwick Airport has experienced "drone activity" in the past hour, chief operating officer Chris Woodroofe tells reporters.
He said: "The last 24 hours have been very difficult for the airport. 120,00 passengers were due to fly out between 9pm last night when we closed the airport and today and those passengers have not flown anywhere because we have drone activity. Within the last hour we have had drone activity.
"But let's be clear, my apologies to all those passengers who have seen this disruption from the criminal activity of these people who are purposely disrupting our airport and their travel so close to Christmas."
Sussex Police are now actively considering shooting down the drone - an option that had previously been rejected due to safety issues.
Detective Chief Superintendent Jason Tingley said the use of firearms “will be within our suite of tactical options available to us going forward”.
He added: "The assessment earlier on today was that we wouldn’t be using firearms and capability to deal with the drone.
"This is a continually reviewed process so you will know and have seen that we have firearms officers deployed today."
Mr Woodroofe said the cancellation of flights on Friday was also being considered as part of the airport's contingency planning.
He said: "I think what's clear from the last 24 hours is that drones are a UK aviation issue, or even an international aviation issue.
"We have had the police, we have had the military seeking to bring this drone down for the last 24 hours and to date that has not been successful.
"So Gatwick Airport is still closed, it's closed for the rest of this evening and our intention is to review on an ongoing basis whether we can open tomorrow.
"But we are working up contingency plans all the way through to no flights tomorrow."
There have been over 50 sightings of a drone near Gatwick Airport, said Detective Chief Superintendent Jason Tingley.
"We don't know what the drone specification is," he added.
"Our working assumption is it's larger than what someone might buy online, we think it may have been adapted and developed.
"We're working through CCTV footage and trying to identify the make and model."
Sussex Police say they are investigating "a number of persons of interest" and the possibility that "particular groups" are involved. It follows reports suggesting that environmental protesters were involved in the drone activity.
Detective Chief Superintendent Tingley said: "We have a number of persons of interest that we are following up. We are following all lines of inquiry and that would include particular groups.
"The military are here completely as a supportive role, it's a police lead investigation and operation, and they are here to provide that additional support."
He added: "One of the options is to use firearms officers if that presents itself - they have been out on the ground today and that's a consideration and a tactical option that is open to us.
"There are a number of factors in terms of range, the height of the drone and the likely impact of us firing at the drone but that is a tactical option open to the gold commander who will make a decision based on the information available to them at the time."
Labour's shadow aviation minister Karl Turner has told BBC2's Newsnight that transport secretary Chris Grayling should be blamed for the failure to tighten up regulations on drones.
"There should be wider exclusion zones around airports - I think the law says one kilometre at the moment, it should probably be five kilometres according to the experts," he said.
"The Government should have brought this legislation forward, it's been an abject failure and I blame Chris Grayling.
"He should have been in the House of Commons today making a statement and explaining to MPs why the Government has failed to bring this legislation forward."
Photographs from inside Gatwick Airport, courtesy of Victoria Jones and the Press Association.
Passengers sleeping at Gatwick airport while they wait for flights to get going again - hopefully on Friday morning
Stranded passengers queue for information at Gatwick airport while police and military personnel try to track down the drone which has caused travel chaos for more than 24 hours
Gatwick Airport continues to advise passengers not to arrive at the airport before checking with their airline if their flight has been cancelled.
It said in a statement: "Passengers due to fly from Gatwick should check the status of their flight with their airline and not travel to the airport if their flight is not confirmed.
"We have called in additional staff right across the airport, many from Christmas leave, and are working tirelessly with police and security partners to halt this drone flying and thank passengers for their continued patience."
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