GATWICK AIRPORT: FLIGHTS CANCELLED DUE TO DRONES

Police send in snipers to shoot down Gatwick drone: Armed cops are locked in cat and mouse game with drone pilot who is 'deliberately' flying aircraft in and out of runway airspace leaving all flights suspended


Police snipers have been brought in to shoot down drones being deliberately flown over Gatwick Airport as 760 flights were suspended leaving 110,000 people stranded as they try to get away for Christmas.

Officers are in a cat-and-mouse game with the rogue pilot who has not yet been found despite causing complete chaos at Britain's second busiest airport since 9pm last night.

Passengers have been warned to expect disruption running into Friday and Saturday - the busiest days of the Christmas getaway - with planes grounded at Gatwick or scattered across Britain and Europe after being diverted overnight.

A police helicopter and dozens of officers on the ground are scanning a five mile zone around Gatwick with marksmen carrying Heckler & Koch sniper rifles ready to shoot down any drones and end the most disruptive airport trespass in UK history.

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Superintendent Justin Burtenshaw, the airport's policing commander, said: 'Each time we believe we get close to the operator, the drone disappears; when we look to reopen the airfield, the drone reappears. I'm absolutely convinced it's a deliberate act to disrupt Gatwick Airport'.

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What goes through some peoples heads...no matter what their beef?



In the worst drone incursion at a UK airport in history, it emerged:

- Police and Gatwick say the drone incursions are certainly deliberate as hundred of planes are grounded for safety reasons;

- More than 200 flights have been cancelled or delayed so far today as more than 100,000 people are due to come through Gatwick today;

- Last night 10,000 people were stranded with 6,000 diverted elsewhere and 4,000 on planes that never took off;

- Children as young as three, including several meant to fly children to meet Santa in Lapland, forced to sleep on Gatwick's terminal floors, seats or on grounded jets because of a lack of hotels

- Drone is being flown by an expert pilot using a commercial drone who has flown it over Gatwick at least once an hour since 9pm;

- Airport bosses say they will not open until they are sure the threat is gone; Calls for police or RAF to shoot it down - but there are concerns about stray bullets causing more carnage;

What goes through some peoples heads...no matter what their beef?



In the worst drone incursion at a UK airport in history, it emerged:

- Police and Gatwick say the drone incursions are certainly deliberate as hundred of planes are grounded for safety reasons;

- More than 200 flights have been cancelled or delayed so far today as more than 100,000 people are due to come through Gatwick today;

- Last night 10,000 people were stranded with 6,000 diverted elsewhere and 4,000 on planes that never took off;

- Children as young as three, including several meant to fly children to meet Santa in Lapland, forced to sleep on Gatwick's terminal floors, seats or on grounded jets because of a lack of hotels

- Drone is being flown by an expert pilot using a commercial drone who has flown it over Gatwick at least once an hour since 9pm;

- Airport bosses say they will not open until they are sure the threat is gone; Calls for police or RAF to shoot it down - but there are concerns about stray bullets causing more carnage;

the worlds gone mad, complete idiots

2 people arrested..eco warriors apparently...bit concerning that 2 nut jobs can cause such havoc though.

2 people arrested..eco warriors apparently...bit concerning that 2 nut jobs with glorified toys can cause such havoc though.

Well they can stew over it for the next 5 years if guilty and also should be made to pay the cost of the disruption ! Sentences should be minimum 10yrs not max of 5 for such offences.

2 people arrested..eco warriors apparently...bit concerning that 2 nut jobs with glorified toys can cause such havoc though.

Well they can stew over it for the next 5 years if guilty and also should be made to pay the cost of the disruption ! Sentences should be minimum 10yrs not max of 5 for such offences.

If they have caught those involved and if they are found guilty, I think they should be given a sentence big enough to deter any future idiots from trying this sort of thing again. I am sure there are plenty of people who would sympathise with their cause, but this sort of stunt just backfires on them and costs support. Probably get a hefty fine and a suspended sentence.

2 people arrested..eco warriors apparently...bit concerning that 2 nut jobs can cause such havoc though.

Put them both up against a wall and shoot them in the back of the head

2 people arrested..eco warriors apparently...bit concerning that 2 nut jobs with glorified toys can cause such havoc though.

Well they can stew over it for the next 5 years if guilty and also should be made to pay the cost of the disruption ! Sentences should be minimum 10yrs not max of 5 for such offences.

If they have caught those involved and if they are found guilty, I think they should be given a sentence big enough to deter any future idiots from trying this sort of thing again. I am sure there are plenty of people who would sympathise with their cause, but this sort of stunt just backfires on them and costs support. Probably get a hefty fine and a suspended sentence.

Steve Max sentence is 5yrs cannot see how they will get away with anything other than max sentence! And should pay cost of the disruption, that will make the other idiots take notice? The law must be changed to make the minimum sentence 10yrs really need a strong deterrent.

2 people arrested..eco warriors apparently...bit concerning that 2 nut jobs with glorified toys can cause such havoc though.

Well they can stew over it for the next 5 years if guilty and also should be made to pay the cost of the disruption ! Sentences should be minimum 10yrs not max of 5 for such offences.

If they have caught those involved and if they are found guilty, I think they should be given a sentence big enough to deter any future idiots from trying this sort of thing again. I am sure there are plenty of people who would sympathise with their cause, but this sort of stunt just backfires on them and costs support. Probably get a hefty fine and a suspended sentence.

Steve Max sentence is 5yrs cannot see how they will get away with anything other than max sentence! And should pay cost of the disruption, that will make the other idiots take notice? The law must be changed to make the minimum sentence 10yrs really need a strong deterrent.

Agree with you, but I doubt if they will serve any time in prison. You can cause the death of someone and get less than 5 years. Read about people given life sentences with recommendation of 10 years minimum. These people have caused some severe inconvenience, and while I would make an example of them, I doubt if they will get much more than a fine when they appear in court. Five years inside would make people think the next time they are looking to pull a stunt like this.

2 people arrested..eco warriors apparently...bit concerning that 2 nut jobs with glorified toys can cause such havoc though.

Well they can stew over it for the next 5 years if guilty and also should be made to pay the cost of the disruption ! Sentences should be minimum 10yrs not max of 5 for such offences.

If they have caught those involved and if they are found guilty, I think they should be given a sentence big enough to deter any future idiots from trying this sort of thing again. I am sure there are plenty of people who would sympathise with their cause, but this sort of stunt just backfires on them and costs support. Probably get a hefty fine and a suspended sentence.

Steve Max sentence is 5yrs cannot see how they will get away with anything other than max sentence! And should pay cost of the disruption, that will make the other idiots take notice? The law must be changed to make the minimum sentence 10yrs really need a strong deterrent.

Agree with you, but I doubt if they will serve any time in prison. You can cause the death of someone and get less than 5 years. Read about people given life sentences with recommendation of 10 years minimum. These people have caused some severe inconvenience, and while I would make an example of them, I doubt if they will get much more than a fine when they appear in court. Five years inside would make people think the next time they are looking to pull a stunt like this.

Your probably right and if they are activists they'll enjoy living of the state inside hmp if get low sentence, need to make it strong deterrent! Can you imagine the chaos if decided to do same at Heathrow if and when new runway is started?