120,000 stranded as drones force flight disruption

Wedding party among those caught up in chaos at Gatwick Airport as delays continue into the night

A COUPLE due to be married tomorrow and their wedding party were last night facing uncertainty at the country’s second busiest airport descended into chaos days before Christmas because of rogue drones.

More than 120,000 people were stranded after flights were delayed as police, airport authorities and even the Army were drafted in to try to find the drone operators.

Bride-to-be Tayo Abraham and her partner Ope Odedine were due to fly to Marrakesh in Morocco on Wednesday alongside nine family and friends.

The group boarded the Air Arabia flight, due to depart at 8.40pm, and were kept onboard “in the dark” until 2am. Gatwick’s runway has been shut since Wednesday night due to devices flying over the airfield, with chief executive officer Stewart Wingate saying they have been designed to “close the airport and bring maximum disruption”.

Miss Abraham, 31, a contractor from Glasgow, said: “It’s been a year that we’ve been planning this, we can’t start rearranging the wedding.

“It’s sad because it’s Christmas time and people are trying to get to loved ones. Everything has been disrupted but aside from the cost it’s the emotional side, the trauma.”

The group, including a four-yearold and a one-year-old, booked a hotel for the night after passengers were told to return to the airport at 11am on Thursday.

Following another day of disruption, Ms Abraham and her fiance are booking an alternative flight from Manchester Airport for 6am

on Friday morning at a cost of over £1,000.

She said they may have to “trim” back on guests as the additional cost of rebooking flights was too high for everyone to pay.

She said: “Most of the guests are there already. We have to be there.

“I just want to get there and get this over with, but it will be disappointing for everyone that isn’t able to travel.”

The couple are due to fly back on December 26, with other members due to return to the UK on Sunday. Ms Abraham’s uncle Baba Sanwo, from San Diego, flew into Heathrow from the US on Tuesday in anticipation of Wednesday’s flight, hoping to travel as a family.

The 63-year-old said he had been sat on the floor of Gatwick for over five hours. He said: “I’m uncomfortable, cold and hungry.”

Stella Phillips, the bride-to-be’s aunt, from London, said she may be unable to attend the wedding if the delays continue.

She said: “There’s no information. Gatwick have been fine but they don’t have any information for you, they say go to your airline.”

The 41-year-old said the group paid £300 for the hotel on Wednesday and they are unsure whether they can recover the costs.

Mrs Phillips said: “This kind of thing can be avoided. You’re saying you’re trying to prevent loss of life, but you know it’s a drone. Couldn’t they have brought the military in ages ago? It might take another 24 hours for them to do what they want to do.”

Disruption was set to continue today, one of the airport’s busiest days of the year because of the Christmas getaway. Mr Wingate said: “This is a highly targeted activity which has been designed to close the airport and bring maximum disruption in the run-up to Christmas.”

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “The people who were involved should face the maximum possible custodial sentence.”

Earlier this year, new laws banned all drones from flying within one kilometre of airports. Drone users face an unlimited fine, up to five years in prison, or both, if they break the law.

Aside from the cost it’s the emotional side, the trauma.

Bride-to-be Tayo Abraham, whose flight to Morocco was cancelled.