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Gatwick Airport closure: Thousands suffer travel chaos as drones are spotted near airfield

Flights in and out of the UK's second busiest airport have been suspended after the devices were first seen on Wednesday night.

Thursday 20 December 2018 11:00, UK

Passengers have been forced to wait all night for their flights
Image: Passengers have been forced to wait all night for their flights
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Thousands of passengers have suffered travel chaos after Gatwick Airport closed due to drones being flown nearby.

Flights in and out of the UK's second busiest airport were suspended at around 9pm on Wednesday after two of the devices were seen near the West Sussex airfield.

Chris Woodroofe, Gatwick's chief operating officer, said the devices had been spotted again over the airport as late as 8am this morning.

More than 10,000 have been affected by the closure, including 2,000 passengers whose flights have been unable to take off.

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Queues of passengers in the check in area at Gatwick Airport
Image: Queues of passengers have formed in the check-in area at Gatwick Airport

Gatwick announced the runway had reopened at about 3am, but 45 minutes later it was shut again after more drone sightings.

Mr Woodroofe told Sky News: "The police advice is that it would be dangerous to seek to shoot the drone down because of what may happen to the stray bullets."

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He added that one of the flying devices is a heavy industrial drone and not the type you pick up off the shelf.

A police helicopter flies over the runway at Gatwick airport which was closed after drones were spotted over the airfield
Image: A police helicopter flies over the runway at Gatwick

Passengers have faced severe disruption as flights were diverted to other airports in the UK and across Europe.

Some reported being left stuck on planes for several hours while they waited to find out what was going on.

Gatwick advised anyone flying from the airport, or collecting someone, to check the status of their flight.

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A spokeswoman added that airlines were working to provide hotel accommodation or transport for those whose flights were diverted.

Jon Parker, who served with the RAF and is now an airline pilot, told Sky News: "It sounds like more than one drone has been used which seems to me like it could be a concerted effort to disrupt operations.

"We've seen nothing on this scale before although Manchester Airport did suspend all flights for a short time back in 2017 after a drone was seen."

Gatwick airport
Image: The runway was first closed at 9pm last night

Lyndsey Clarke, from Southend, said she was stuck on a plane for more than four hours after it was rerouted to Stansted.

The 27-year-old said passengers were having to get taxis back to Gatwick after they were finally allowed off the aircraft.

Luke McComiskie, whose plane ended up in Manchester, said: "We got told there would be some arrangements with coaches for us when we get out the terminal.

"It was just chaos and they had only two coaches and taxis charging people £600 to get to Gatwick."

Joe Bond's flight from Belfast was diverted to Birmingham, and he joked on Twitter: "From the sound of the stewards we might be staying here forever."

He added: "Update. Got a free can of Coke and Pringles which has made the delay better."