Gatwick Airport closed and all flights suspended, with days of delays ahead
Passengers flying from Gatwick Airport this morning have been told not to travel to the airport, with all incoming and outgoing flights currently suspended.
At least 20,000 passengers have already been affected, with hundreds of thousands of journeys likely to be disrupted in the coming days. Gatwick's operations chief Chris Woodroofe said those travelling home for Christmas will also face disruption for at least another 24 hours, and could not say when flights would resume.
The airport received reports of two drones flying over its airfield at around 9pm last night, which prompted its immediate closure until 3am. The airport then had to be closed again from 3:45am, as further sightings of drones were reported.
All flights landing at Gatwick this morning have been diverted to other airports, including some in France and the Netherlands. Flights scheduled to take off from Gatwick have been grounded until further notice.
Passengers have been strongly advised to check the status of their flight with their airline before travelling to the airport this morning.
1/2 Thursday 11.45: All flights remain suspended from Gatwick today, due to ongoing drone activity around the airfield. There is significant disruption, as a result of what appears to be a deliberate attempt to disrupt flights.
— Gatwick Airport LGW (@Gatwick_Airport) December 20, 2018
2/2 We are extremely disappointed that passengers are being affected, especially at this time of year. Our advice continues to be not to travel to the airport and to check with your airline on the status of your flight. pic.twitter.com/65N8Dbt1Wl
— Gatwick Airport LGW (@Gatwick_Airport) December 20, 2018
More than 20 police units are in the process of searching for the operators of the drones. A representative for Sussex Police said there is no indication of the drone threat being terror-related.
As of July this year it is illegal to fly a drone within 1km of an airport or airfield boundary in the UK, as they can strike planes and cause damage. Some drones have been fitted with special software to force the technology into shut-down mode if it is thought to be near an airfield.
Those caught flouting the law could face maximum fines of £2,500, or up to five years in prison.
A Gatwick spokesperson said airlines were working to provide affected passengers with appropriate assistance, including hotel accommodation or to transport those being diverted to other airports back to Gatwick.
Those meeting someone from a flight have been advised to check the airport's live flight information on its website for up-to-date information.
"I have a drone on my airfield… and #Gatwick will not be able to reopen until that drone is brought down" – Gatwick's Chief Operating Officer Chris Woodroofe apologises to passengers and says flights to and from the airport remain suspended https://t.co/CotwzsvcTn pic.twitter.com/FDH2v91cvV
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) December 20, 2018
"It's definitely not a standard, off-the-shelf type drone," Woodroofe told the BBC this morning on the radio. "Given what has happened I definitely believe it is a deliberate act, yes."
"We also have the helicopter up in the air but the police advice is that it would be dangerous to seek to shoot the drone down because of what may happen to the stray bullets," he added.
The latest statement from Gatwick, released just after 11am, said:
"Gatwick Airports runway remains closed and all flights are currently suspended following reports of drones flying over Gatwicks airfield last night and this morning. There is significant disruption at Gatwick today as a result of what appears to be a deliberate attempt to disrupt flights.
"We are extremely disappointed that passengers are being affected by this especially at such an important time of year. We are prioritising the welfare of those at the airport by deploying staff into our terminals to look after people as best we can.
"We are working with our airlines to get information to passengers and our airlines are working to provide affected passengers with hotel accommodation or transport passengers landing at other airports to Gatwick by other means.
"We apologise to any affected passengers for this inconvenience but the safety of our passengers and all staff is our number one priority."
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