This man from Somerset had travelled to Gatwick to meet family, who are now stranded in Europe.

There's praise for airline staff from this stranded passenger.

Image source, Reuters

Adriana Inciarte is concerned about her parents, whose plane from Orlando has been diverted to Dublin.

These shots taken by the BBC show very little activity on the airport's runway today.

Det Supt Juliet Parker of Sussex Police has told the BBC the authorities have "committed a lot of resources to this".

She said: "Progress may seem like it is slow, but we are doing everything we can with Gatwick to resolve this with the safety of the public absolutely paramount."

When asked whether the airport would be open soon she said: "At the moment, until we can guarantee it's absolutely safe, then this is the right thing to do at this time."

Image source, Getty Images

A number of armed police have been spotted near the Gatwick runway, with the last sighting of a drone coming within the last two and a half hours.

Image source, Peter Macdiarmid/LNP

Aircraft at Gatwick remain grounded, with the airport's chief operating officer saying at midday that there had been another drone sighting within the last hour.

Image source, PA

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

This passenger was able to swiftly rearrange this morning's travel plans, thanks to an alert from the airline.

But this American ex-pat living in the UK was not so lucky.

While Robert Antcliff will now be spending a lonely birthday in London.

Consumer rights experts say that despite the frustration for those who have suffered disruption, these are "extraordinary circumstances".

Alex Neill, from consumer rights group Which?, said: "This situation will understandably be frustrating for both the airlines and the tens of thousands of passengers travelling to and from Gatwick ahead of Christmas.

"Whilst these extraordinary circumstances unfortunately mean you are not entitled to compensation, you may still be entitled to meals, refreshments, hotel accommodation or transfers.

"You don't have to cancel your tickets though, as depending on the length of the delay, your airline should be providing you with alternative travel options or accommodation."

Image source, Getty Images

Jeff Eyre owns two drones. He's described the situation at Gatwick as 'shocking'.

"It's not going to paint our hobby and the drone industry in a great light sadly. People think they're intrusive enough without this.

"If drones are handled in the right way they're amazing bits of kit. I think this person should be made an example of, for the misery they've caused and the horrendous impact on the economy.

"This is shocking and quite frankly an embarrassment to the rest of us that use drones responsibly."

Leslie Skinner told the BBC:

"I've just arrived home in Haywards Heath after waiting a few hours near the gates at Gatwick Airport. Yes, I was inconvenienced but nothing like others who have been on standby waiting for updates on their flights since early this morning.

"I was standing near a mum who was lying on the floor near Dixon’s as her baby slept on her chest. I smiled but felt a sense of pity for her situation. How long had they been lying there?

"So many children and adults sitting on the floor, sleeping on airport seats. The restaurants at full capacity, queues for the toilets and no updates, no explanation.

"As I write the airport is still closed. I think there should be emergency services to come in and help people stranded at the airport. I find it shocking that drones could shut the second busiest airport in the UK."

Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom has said the use of drones that have shut down Gatwick Airport is "absolutely unacceptable".

She said: "Our hearts go out to all those who are desperately trying to go on holiday or arrive in the UK via Gatwick.

"It's absolutely unacceptable. I know the police are doing all they can to catch the operators of these drones."

Image source, Getty Images

Luke McComiskie's plane was due to land at Gatwick but was diverted to Manchester, and he described chaotic scenes as people tried to find their way home after more than three hours stuck on board.

The 20-year-old, from Aldershot, 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."

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

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

Image source, Getty Images

Children and airport staff came together at Gatwick to create some Christmas cheer on a day when thousands of people suffered disruption to their travel plans.

Image source, EPA

The BBC's Transport Correspondent Paul Clifton said there were thousands of people packed into Gatwick without enough room to even sit on their suitcases.

"To describe it as pandemonium is something of an understatement," he said.

"The problem at this time of the year, is the airport is already running at full capacity.

"You can't just bring in more planes. EasyJet is the biggest operator here, it's nearly 50% of the airport's business.

"They can't suddenly find extra aircraft, and by this point crew and aircraft will be out of sequence.

"Crews simply are not allowed to work large numbers of extra hours.

"It's quite hard to see this backlog being cleared up within two days or three days, possibly even before Christmas."

House of Lords
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Transport Minister Baroness Sugg says the Department of Transport and Ministry of Defence are "involved in the response" alongside ten police units "to try to resolve the issue as quickly as possible".

"We are doing everything we can," she stresses.

Conservative peer and pilot Lord Kirkhope said the All-Party Parliamentary Group on General Aviation, which he chairs, "are concerned about the activity of drones in airspace at this time".

He calls for stricter "measures of accountability" on the selling and use of drones.

Baroness Sugg says from next November those who have a drone will have to register it and take a safety test.

Numerous peers, including Liberal Democrat peer Lord Dholakia, call for a transport minister to return to the House later today to announce a further update on the issue, and for passengers to be given clearer information about the situation as "many are confused".

Labour peer Lord Harris of Haringey says the current regulations "are insufficient" and that the government "needs to stop dragging its feet on the issue" and implement tighter restrictions on the usage of drones.

Baroness Sugg says the disruption to passengers "is not acceptable" and says the government is "working to ensure it does not happen again".

House of Lords
Parliament

Image source, HoL

Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Randerson is now asking a private notice question about the disruption at Gatwick Airport caused by drone activity.

Gatwick's runway has been shut since Wednesday night, when two drone devices were seen flying over the perimeter fence, leaving tens of thousands of passengers facing major disruption.

Baroness Randerson asks whether the matter is "an act of terror, or plain criminal irresponsibility", and what steps are being taken to ensure "no copy-cat attacks".

Transport Minister Baroness Sugg says earlier this year the government brought in a law to ensure that it is illegal to fly a drone less than 1km away from an airport to prevent incidents like this.

"It does seem that these drones are being used intentionally to disrupt the airport, but this is an ongoing investigation," she adds.

Shadow leader in the Lords Baroness Smith of Basildon says the incident is unlikely to be "simply a teenager playing with an early Christmas present".

Baroness Smith questions whether the police have the equipment and expertise to solve the situation.

Chief operating officer of Gatwick Airport Chris Woodroofe said it would "realistically" take several days to recover from the disruption.

He said he could not say when the runway would reopen.

"The current state of play is that the runway is closed," he said.

"It is clearly our intention to get open again, but only when it's safe to do so."

There has been another drone sighting near Gatwick Airport in the last hour, says Gatwick chief operating officer Chris Woodroofe.

He said this was seen by Sussex Police.

Mr Woodroofe added: "I cannot tell you what time we will reopen."

"I am not prepared to reopen the airport until it is safe to do so."

Speaking in the House of Lords, aviation minister Baroness Sugg said it was "absolutely not acceptable that passengers face such disruption ahead of Christmas".

She said: "Once this event is closed the police will be investigating fully and of course we will be looking at our response and also working with airports to avoid such an incident in the future."

She told the House she could not give many more details because the incident is ongoing.