Gatwick airport delays: Flights resume despite new drone sighting
Police say they have identified 'persons of interest'
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Gatwick Airport was forced to suspend flights for just over an hour following another drone sighting on Friday evening.
The runway reopened after officials were assured that the new "military measures" in place meant it was safe for planes to take off and land.
"While we investigated, airfield movements were suspended," said a spokesperson for the airport. "This was a precautionary measure as safety remains our main priority,
"The military measures we have in place at the airport have provided us with the reassurance necessary that it is safe to reopen our airfield."
Sussex Police said they were "deploying significant resources to seek and locate the drone and its operator" but there were reports that the culprits were taunting officers by flying overhead while flashing their lights.
Officers said they had identified “a number of persons of interest” after there were more than 50 sightings of the craft in the 24 hours from 9pm on Wednesday, when Gatwick was first forced to close.
Sussex Police Assistant Chief Constable Steve Barry said investigators are keeping an open mind over the motive behind the drone attacks but are not treating it as a terrorist incident.
Mr Barry described the drone activity as "really high-end criminal behaviour". He said: "This is a really significant criminal offence. There are resources here at Gatwick Airport now to mitigate the threat of that and a lot of resources to bring the offender to justice."
It is believed that the Israeli-developed Drone Dome system, which can detect drones using radar, is one of the pieces of equipment being used to prevent further disruption.
Police are also prepared to blast the drones out of the sky with a shotgun or jam them with a hi-tech radar system.
A £10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the culprits is being offered by the Crimestoppers charity.
The latest drone activity meant another 108 arrivals were cancelled or diverted and 83 departures were aborted on Friday. Several flights were diverted to other airports around the UK.
Passengers have been advised to check with their airlines as to the status of their flight before travelling to Gatwick.
See below for our coverage of events as they happened:
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Transport secretary Chris Grayling says he has spoken to the aviation industry about protecting airports from similar incidents in the future.
He has also called on the Association of British Insurers to ensure passengers are treated fairly if they make claims for compensation.
Passengers who have experienced travel disruption should be eligible if their claims to airlines, travel operators or credit card providers are not successful.
Mr Grayling said:
I would like to echo the comments made by Gatwick airport and commend everyone for their hard work to ensure the airport is safely back open and getting passengers on the move again.
Today I have had productive discussions with the ABI on reimbursing those passengers with insurance cover whose flights were delayed or cancelled.
And I have had further conversations with the aviation industry about measures that can be put in place to help protect airports from similar incidents happening again.
Flgihts at Gatwick Airport have been suspended due to a "suspected drone sighting", according to a spokesperson.
Here is our breaking news report on the temporary suspension of flights at Gatwick following. It will be updated as more details emerge.
The new drone sighting occurred at 5.10pm.
A Gatwick spokeswoman said: "We have currently suspended airfield operations as a precaution due to a suspected drone sighting."
Planes headed for Gatwick are currently either in holding pattern or diverting to other airports, according to Flightradar.
The Independent's travel correspondent Simon Calder reports that more diversions seem inevitable as nothing is either taking off or landing at Gatwick.
The airport was hoping to operate 80 per cent of its schedule today and close to 100 per cent tomorrow. This now looks unlikely.
Here's the latest from Sussex Police:
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.
Gatwick Airport has been closed until 10pm due to drone activity nearby, according to Eurocontrol.
At 6pm there were 45 flights in the air requiring diversion to other airports. "Diversion capabilities are limited due to strong wind and weather situation," they say.
Gatwick Airport says flights have now resumed despite the sighting of a drone at 5.10pm.
Gatwick Airport said that military measures now in place mean it is now safe to fly despite the drone sighting at 5.10pm.
Here is their latest statement:
Flights have now resumed at Gatwick following a reported drone in the area.
While we investigated, airfield movements were suspended. This was a precautionary measure as safety remains our main priority.
The military measures we have in place at the airport have provided us with the reassurance necessary that it is safe to reopen our airfield.
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