Gatwick drones: As it happened

Summary

Gatwick drones: As it happened

Live Reporting

The latest from train operatorspublished at 18:54 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2018
Bob Dale
BBC Live reporter
Rail operators have updated their advice, but say passengers should still check with their airlines first.
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Gatwick disruption: Your storiespublished at 18:49 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2018
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EasyJet advises passengers to check flight statuspublished at 18:41 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2018
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The scene at Gatwickpublished at 18:39 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2018
Image source, Eddie Mitchell
This was the scene at Gatwick Airport a short time ago.
A Gatwick Airport spokesperson said: “Flights have now resumed at Gatwick following a reported drone in the area."
Have you been affected by the latest development? You can email us, tweet, external us or send us a message on Facebook, external.
Image source, Eddie Mitchell
What are the rules around drones?published at 18:37 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2018
'Unbelievable...selfish idiot'published at 18:31 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2018
Bob Dale
BBC Live reporter
More anger from frustrated passengers at Gatwick.
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Gatwick: "It is safe to re-open our airfield."published at 18:30 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2018
A Gatwick Airport spokesperson said: “Flights have now resumed at Gatwick following a reported drone in the area.
"While we investigated, airfield movements were suspended.
"This was a precautionary measure as safety remains our main priority.
"The military measures we have in place at the airport have provided us with reassurance necessary that it is safe to re-open our airfield.”
Flight suspension liftedpublished at 18:26 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2018
Breaking
The suspension of flights at Gatwick Airport has been lifted, following a confirmed sighting.
A spokeswoman for the airport said: "The measures we have in place at the airport have given us the reassurance we are safe to open."
'It's astonishing'published at 18:24 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2018
Bob Dale
BBC Live reporter
Families are growing concerned that they won't be reunited for Christmas.
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'I want to cry'published at 18:22 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2018
Ana Trinanes fears she may not be able to spend Christmas with family in Spain with her second flight out of Gatwick in jeopardy.
The 49-year-old mother-of-two first arrived at the airport at 06:00 GMT on Thursday but her flight was cancelled because of the drone chaos.
She slept overnight at the airport with fresh flights booked to eventually take her to family in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia.
But, with just two people in front of her before checking in, she has been told her 20.55 flight is delayed after a fresh suspected sighting.
The personal assistant said: "Oh my god, I want to cry, it is unbelievable - again.
"The first time I was laughing and I was speaking with my family and telling them everything about it, I still don't believe it.
"It's just a small drone against all the police and the army and everyone. It's unbelievable.
"At this moment I'm shocked, I don't know if I want to cry or I want to laugh, I don't know what to do."
Image source, EPA
Noise pollution campaigners defend 'early Christmas present' commentpublished at 18:19 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2018
Noise pollution campaigners have defended describing the disruption at Gatwick as an "early Christmas present" that has given them some "tranquillity".
Community Against Gatwick Noise Emissions (CAGNE), a community group which campaigns against the airport's busy flight paths, said it was not responsible for the drone chaos and did not condone the behaviour.
But the group said it did welcome the peace and quiet brought by the absence of flights.
The response prompted messages of abuse online and accusations the group was behind the incident.
Chairwoman Sally Pavey said: "With no aircraft flying, it's been a glimpse of how it used to be - tranquillity.
"It's been a bit of respite for us but that doesn't mean we condone this behaviour."
She added: "We really sympathise with these people who have had their plans disrupted.
"It's a horrendous position to find themselves in."
Gatwick in numberspublished at 18:16 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2018
During Thursday's closure, 760 flights had been due to arrive or depart from the airport.
On Friday, 155 flights were cancelled before 16:00 GMT, as well as 91 arrivals and 64 departures.
Gatwick's chief operating officer Chris Woodroofe said on Friday morning that 120,000 passengers due to arrive or fly had not travelled since Wednesday night.
Since the latest closure at 17:10 GMT 11 flights due to land at Gatwick have been diverted elsewhere.
'We thought it would be all good'published at 18:14 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2018
Bob Dale
BBC Live reporter
Chris Airey was due to fly to Paris with easyJet at 16:45 GMT, but the flight's been cancelled.
He says it's ruined his family plans for Christmas.
Quote Message
I'm meeting my wife in Paris. She's visiting her cousin. I have just finished work. We're coming back Christmas night. Yesterday I kept checking the news. Today with the army here, we thought it would all be good."
Chris Airey
Passengers stuck on grounded flightspublished at 18:12 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2018
Nikkita Sartori-Sigrist, 24, and Oliver Vaff, 22, from Loughton, Essex, are currently sitting on a grounded BA flight to Cologne.
“We were due to take off but just before half past five the captain announced that all flights had been suspended as another drone had been sighted," they said.
“We are flying to Cologne to go the Christmas Market and flying back Christmas Eve. We’ve been planning it for a really long time and don’t want to miss it but now I’m worried if we go we might not come back.”
'People crying, upset and angry'published at 18:08 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2018
Bob Dale
BBC Live reporter
Photographer Callum Carney says he's been waiting to fly for 43 hours and was about to board a plane for the second time when the latest suspension was announced.
He says it's ruining lives.
Image source, Callum Carney
Image caption,
Callum Carney has been waiting to fly for nearly two days
Quote Message
People everywhere in pandemonium. Whoever is responsible for this should be put away for a long time. Sitting in the airport seeing people crying, upset and angry. What a joke, how haven't they found the person responsible yet?!"
Callum Carney
Gatwick flight 'lands at Bournemouth'published at 18:06 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2018
A British Airways flight from Jersey has been re-directed to Bournemouth International Airport, landing at 18:05 GMT, according to flightradar24.
Gatwick departure board shows further delayspublished at 18:05 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2018
Gatwick Airport's live departure board shows many flights have been delayed.
However, a statement on the website reads: "Gatwick has temporarily suspended flights while we investigate reports of a drone in the area. We will update with more information as soon as we can."
You can view that board here., external
Image source, Gatwick Airport
Rail companies reactpublished at 18:03 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2018
Bob Dale
BBC Live reporter
The advice to passengers from the rail operators which serves Gatwick Airport is to continue checking with their airlines.
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An update from a passenger at Gatwickpublished at 17:59 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2018
The Independent's chief football writer says airport staff have told him they do not believe any more flights will "go out tonight".
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'All check-ins have been suspended'published at 17:58 Greenwich Mean Time 21 December 2018
BBC Radio 5 live
Newlywed Emily had just arrived at the airport to go on honeymoon in Argentina.
“We had pretty high hopes on the train,” she told BBC Radio 5 live.
“It’s a little bit heartbreaking really because we’ve been looking forward to this for a long time.”
Emily and her husband are supposed to be flying at 21:30 GMT.
She said all check-ins have been suspended until further notice apart from those in the next 90 minutes.
“It doesn’t sound too promising right now,” she said.