WAS THERE NO DRONE ATTACK?
Suspects cleared It ‘might not exist’ £50,000 reward 67 sightings claimed
POLICE investigating the Gatwick travel chaos have shockingly admitted there may never have been a drone.
The astonishing revelation came after Sussex police released a couple wrongly arrested over the attacks.
Airport bosses have offered a £50,000 reward to find the real culprits.
Det Chief Supt Jason Tingley said last night it was “always a possibility that there may not have been any drone activity in the first place”, despite days of disruption.
But he said: “We are actively investigating sightings of drone activity at Gatwick airport following 67 reports from the evening of the 19 December to 21 December from the public, passengers, police officers and staff at the airport.”
Ex-soldier Paul Gait, 47, and wife Elaine Kirk-Gait, 54, were held for 36 hours over the travel mayhem.
But red-faced investigators yesterday released them without charge, saying they had “fully co-operated” with police inquiries.
The window-fitter’s employer claimed model aircraft-loving Paul, from
Crawley, had been at work at the time.
Damaged
Police revealed they were now forensically examining a damaged drone found close to the airport.
More than 1,000 flights were cancelled or diverted after drones were reported at the UK’s second biggest airport. About 140,000 people trying to get away for Christmas were swept up in the disruption, with schedules only getting back to normal yesterday.
Paul’s boss John Allard lashed out at the investigation, saying detectives had handled it “appallingly”.
John, who runs Allard Double Glazing, said he tried to tell cops Paul had an alibi for the days when the drones were flown, but no-one got back to him.
He said: “I know Paul well, he’s worked for me for 17 years and this is going to hit him like a 10-tonne truck.
“Paul Gait is as harmless as a bloody new born fly. He really is, he’s the most inoffensive bloke.
“Although there was a complete lack of evidence, the police ripped his house apart.”
There are concerns that people, including terrorists, could mount copycat attacks.
Richard Walton, former counter-terror chief at Scotland Yard, warned: “The ease with which a major UK aviation hub was brought to a standstill will not have escaped the attention of terrorist groups.” Bosses at Gatwick have offered £50,000 through Crimestoppers for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the culprits. ¬
LAST night flights resumed at Birmingham airport after an earlier air traffic control fault.