Thousands of people have been hit by travel chaos as Gatwick Airport has been forced to suspends flights after drones were ‘flown near the runway.’
Flights both to and from Belfast were on hold, after the drones were first spotted at around 9pm on Wednesday.
Brilliant.. flight has been cancelled from Gatwick to Belfast today due to stupid drones on the runway and now I can’t back home till tomorrow now. Fuming isn’t the word!
— chrissy munce (@chrissymunce) December 20, 2018
The runway briefly reopened at 3am, but just 45 minutes later it was closed again.
Around 10,000 people have been affected by the chaos.
"There is a drone on my airfield as we speak."
Gatwick's chief operating officer explains why he has had to suspend all flights to and from the airport.
Follow live updates as passengers face travel chaos: https://t.co/vdiwnA6hFY pic.twitter.com/7OVecXPQe8
— Sky News (@SkyNews) December 20, 2018
It’s the first time in the world drones to disrupt a major airport that long. Gatwick is closed since 12h. These are not children playing with drones near the airport, but a real threat to safety https://t.co/mA8kWbsU0D
— AIRLIVE (@airlivenet) December 20, 2018
If London’s second Airport – Gatwick _ can be defeated by a couple of drones..shutting the entire place down for 12 hours+ what does it say of the UKs much vaunted defences upon which we spend so many billions?
— Jon Snow (@jonsnowC4) December 20, 2018
