Army called in to tackle airport drone chaos
New powers to stop repeat of airport chaos
THE MILITARY was last night called in after drones deliberately targeted Gatwick Airport, shutting down the runway and disrupting the travel plans of more than 120,000 people.
An emergency Whitehall meeting was held in response to the escalating crisis at the UK’s second busiest airport.
Efforts to find the drones and whoever is operating them are becoming more and more desperate as flight cancellations continue to soar.
The runway has been closed almost constantly since two drones were spotted being flown inside the West Sussex airport’s perimeter at 9pm on Wednesday. Police described the devices as “industrial” models and are treating the incident as “a deliberate act to disrupt the airport”. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “Sussex Police have requested assistance and support from the armed forces, and we will be deploying the armed forces to give them the help that they need. ”But he declined to say what assistance the military would give.
Some 110,000 people were due to either take off or land at the airport on 760 flights yesterday. Around 10,000 passengers were affected on Wednesday night.
The chief operating officer of Gatwick Airport said the airport would remain closed all evening and potentially all of today after more drone activity last night.
LEGALITY
AVIATION MINISTER Baroness Sugg has said the Government is considering extending police powers to prevent drones causing such disruption at airports in the future.
“I think it’s important to be clear this is a crime, this drone is being flown illegally,” she said yesterday, appearing on national news to address concerns. “Earlier this year we changed the law to make it illegal to fly within a kilometre of an airport and I know that police are out and trying to bring the drone down as quickly as possible. This is an illegal act. We are also looking to extend police powers and early in the new year we’ll be looking at our next steps on that.
“The other thing we’re looking at is counter-drone technology. Technology in this area is obviously moving incredibly quickly, but we need to make sure we’re able to stop such activity in future.”
STRANDED
STRANDED PASSENGERS have told of families running out of food and sleeping in cold terminals as they try and travel home for Christmas.
Andri Kyprianou, from Cyprus, had arrived at Gatwick in the early hours of yesterday morning only to be told her flight had been cancelled and it would be Sunday before she could travel.
“I haven’t slept since yesterday morning, we are very tired,” she said. “It’s freezing, we are cold, having to wear all of these coats for extra blankets. There were young children sleeping on the floor.”
Businessman Chris Lister, from Somerset, had been travelling back to Gatwick from Kiev with his wife Freya, due to land on Wednesday night. Instead, they had spent the night on the aeroplane at Birmingham Airport.
“There were quite a few babies and kids on board, I think they were struggling more than we were and one woman had run out milk,” he added.
A Gatwick spokesman said 110,000 passengers were due to either take off or land at the airport on 760 flights on Thursday.
Around 10,000 passengers were affected on Wednesday night after the runway was closed at 9.03pm.
Passengers have been advised not to travel to the airport if their flight is cancelled.
The challenge faced by individuals ahead of one of the busiest weekends of the year has been praised by MPs in the Commons, meanwhile, amid calls for further action to tackle the use of drones.
Stafford MP Jeremy Lefroy called for a crackdown on drones, warning more must be done to tackle their “criminal” use.
Mr Lefroy said the ongoing disruption showed there was a need for further action, on top of the new criminal offences in the Drone Bill he helped bring in this year.
“Our hearts go out to all those who are desperately trying to go on holiday or arrive in the UK via Gatwick,” added Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom. “It’s absolutely unacceptable.”