Drones shut down London's Gatwick Airport

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Europe

Large drones forced London's Gatwick Airport to shut down on Thursday, causing chaos amid the busy Christmas travel season, and prompting the deployment of British troops to help handle the situation.

Hundreds of flights were canceled and thousands of passengers were stranded as more than 20 police units hunted unsuccessfully for the operators of the large drones, which first appeared on Wednesday night.

Police said there was no indication of a terrorism motive behind the devices, which reappeared near the airfield every time the airport tried to reopen its sole runway.

Europe's air traffic control agency Eurocontrol said the airport, south of London, would remain closed until 0600 GMT (2:00 p.m. BJT) on Friday.

The armed forces were also deployed to help resolve the situation.

An information board announces flight disruption at London's Gatwick Airport, December 20, 2018. /VCG Photo

"We are there to assist and do everything we can," Defence Minister Gavin Williamson told reporters.

Some 115,000 travelers were scheduled to pass through the airport, Britain's second biggest, on Wednesday night and Thursday, many en route to seasonal breaks.

Flights into Gatwick had to be diverted to other airports and Gatwick put out a notice on Twitter for travelers: "Please do not set out for the airport for your flight without checking with your airline first."

Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman condemned the standoff as "irresponsible and completely unacceptable".

Flights were first halted after two drones were spotted flying over Gatwick at around 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday. The airfield briefly reopened at 3:00 a.m. on Thursday, but had to be closed again following further sightings.

"We believe this to be a deliberate act to disrupt the airport," said Police superintendent Justin Burtenshaw. "However, there are absolutely no indications to suggest this is terror-related."

Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport wait for updates on their travel options, December 20, 2018. /VCG Photo

He added: "Each time we believe we get close to the operator, the drone disappears; when we look to reopen the airfield, the drone reappears."

Gatwick's Chief Operating Officer Chris Woodroofe described one of the drones as a heavy industrial model but said Thursday it would be dangerous to shoot at the drone due to the danger of stray bullets.

It is illegal to fly drones within one kilometer of a British airport boundary, punishable by five years in prison.

Richard Parker, head of air traffic management technology firm Altitude Angel, said this was the first time a major airport had been hit by such a sustained and deliberate incursion into its airspace.

"It's sophisticated, not from a technology side, but it's organized. People have charged lots of batteries, and are deliberately trying to avoid being caught, probably by driving around to different locations," he told Reuters. "It really is unprecedented."

Even after Gatwick re-opens, the backlog and disruption are expected to last for days.

(Top picture: Passengers stranded at London's Gatwick Airport wait for updates, December 20, 2018. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters