Radar to combat drones at airport
DRONES over Gatwick Airport could be blasted out of the sky with a shotgun or jammed using a hi-tech radar system as police continue to hunt for the unmanned aircraft and their operators.
Flights were again suspended last night because of a suspected drone sighting, prompting further passengers to be stranded after planes were previously grounded for around 36 hours.
The airport said operations were halted yesterday evening after a sighting at around 5.10pm.
The runway had been reopened in the morning after planes were stopped from flying in and out of the airport from 9pm on Wednesday.
Police believe more than one unmanned aircraft are responsible and are investigating the possibility of multiple culprits.
Military equipment is being used in a bid to stop further drone disruption, while a range of tactics are in place if any unmanned aircraft are seen inside the perimeter.
One piece of equipment believed to have been deployed at the airport is the Israelideveloped Drone Dome system, which can detect drones using radar. It can also jam communications between the drone and its operator, enabling authorities to take control of and land the drone.
Sussex Police Assistant Chief Constable Steve Barry said less sophisticated options were also available, including shotguns, although blasting drones out of the sky was one of the least effective tactics.
Police are keeping an open mind over the motive, with theories including an environmental protest, but are not treating it as a terrorist incident.
Mr Barry said there was no evidence of involvement of a foreign power, but described the drone activity as “really highend criminal behaviour”.
“This is a really significant criminal offence,” he said.
“There are resources here at Gatwick Airport now to mitigate the threat of that and a lot of resources to bring the offender to justice.”
Production assistant Garron AkushieStevens, 26, had been due to fly to his uncle’s wedding in Ghana on December 24, but was told the earliest available flight was on Christmas Day.
“I’m highly disappointed. He is a very close uncle to me,” he said.
“It’s unacceptable. I feel disheartened. I feel traumatised by this experience.
“I feel let down. I feel as though I have been thrown to the wolves.”
Gatwick chief operating officer Chris Woodroofe said he hoped the airport would be back to normal soon, but he refused to rule out similar disruption from drones in the future.
“We have been working with technology providers ourselves for the last 12 months but stood here today, there is no commercially available airport-licensed proven technology that I could implement,” he said.