Gatwick Runways Closed Due To Drone Activity
[Updated] All flights to and from Gatwick are currently suspended due to drone sightings in and around their airfield resulting in tonight’s [Dec 20] British Airways flight to Bermuda being cancelled, according to online flight tracking, and last night’s flight to London being diverted to Amsterdam.
A Gatwick Airport statement says, “Gatwick Airport’s runway remains closed and all flights are currently suspended following reports of drones flying over Gatwick’s airfield last night and this morning. There is significant disruption at Gatwick today as a result of what appears to be a deliberate attempt to disrupt flights.
“We are extremely disappointed that passengers are being affected by this especially at such an important time of year. We are prioritising the welfare of those at the airport by deploying staff into our terminals to look after people as best we can.
“We are working with our airlines to get information to passengers and our airlines are working to provide affected passengers with hotel accommodation or transport passengers landing at other airports to Gatwick by other means.
“We apologise to any affected passengers for this inconvenience but the safety of our passengers and all staff is our number one priority.”
A British Airways statement says, “All flights to and from London Gatwick airport are suspended while authorities investigate reports of drones flying close to the airfield.
“We take the safety of our customers and crew extremely seriously, and like most airlines at London Gatwick airport, we have cancelled a number of flights today.
“Our airport teams are working to minimise the disruption for our customers at what we know is a very important time of year.
“We are offering customers travelling today to or from London Gatwick a range of rebook and refund options.”
A Sussex Police tweet says, “We are carrying out a joint search w/ @Gatwick_Airport for the operators of #drones sighted at #Gatwick. Public safety is paramount and we will take all available actions to disrupt this deliberate act. There are no indications to suggest this is terror related.”
Update 12.42pm: A local BA spokesperson said, “All flights at Gatwick Airport have been cancelled following reports of drones flying over the airfield last night and this morning.
“We take the safety of our customers and crew extremely seriously, and like most airlines at Gatwick Airport, we have cancelled flights today including BA 2233 to Bermuda.
“However BA has now arranged for an aircraft from London Heathrow to operate the BA 2232 flight out of Bermuda tonight.
“Passengers are pleased advised to keep checking the ba.com website for the latest time of departure from Bermuda this evening . Our airport teams are working to minimize the disruption for our customers at what we know is a very important time of year.
“We are offering customers travelling to or from Gatwick today and tomorrow a range of rebook and refund options, and encouraging them to check ba.com for the latest information about their flight before they leave home.”
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Let see if people will complain like they did when Bermuda protested
‘The drone that stole xmas’.
Now hopefully those flying drones in Bermuda will understand why there are aviation laws regulating the use of them.
Gatwick has reopened,however,good luck in getting a flight out via BA.
AA to JFK and then AA to London is much cheaper and rarely has a problem.
Hope the operator gets caught, prosecuted for every infraction of law that can be found, then sued by the airport authority, airlines & all the passengers inconvenienced.
This idiot must have cost many millions. For what reason? Think of the lives put in danger because of this stupid stunt.
Can Heathrow Airport be an option??
A BA flight DID come to Bermuda, from out of Heathrow, then returned to Heathrow , with passengers…last night!!