The drone stunt action over the London Gatwick airport threatens to paralyze the flight operations at Europe’s seventh largest airport even the entire Friday. Despite the use of the army and police, flying robots were sighted on the runway again on Thursday evening, so that the take-off and landing ban remains in force until further notice. The ban has also had an impact on Austria so far.
Since Wednesday night, in Gatwick, with the exception of a three and a half hour break, not a single plane has landed or landed. Incoming machines had to be diverted and some hundreds of kilometers away airports such as Amsterdam and Paris drive. According to the airport management, passengers have to be prepared to keep it on Friday as well.
„This is a precisely planned activity designed to paralyze the airport and bring maximum disability in the run up to Christmas,“ Gatwick CEO Stewart Wingate said. 115,000 travelers were hit on Thursday, with another 126,000 expected in Gatwick on Friday. To defuse the chaotic situation, night bans on other airports should be suspended temporarily.
Also chaos in Austria
The ban has also had an impact on Austrian air traffic. At Vienna-Schwechat, Salzburg and Innsbruck airports, there were delays and cancellations of flights to and from London-Gatwick on Thursday. Affected passengers were advised to check with their airline about their travel connection. The low-cost airline Ryanair, for example, diverts its jets to another London airport – Stansted.
The disturbance maneuvers over Gatwick could not prevent operational forces at first, despite a large police operation with helicopters and snipers as well as special equipment of the army. If there is another drone on the airfield, a kill is also conceivable, the police said. Transport Minister Chris Grayling assured that it was „a huge effort“ to stop the disturbances.
Prime Minister Theresa May promised close cooperation between the authorities and the airport. „The activity we’ve seen is illegal, and anyone caught catching a plane can be imprisoned for up to five years,“ May said.
Eco-activist responsible for targeted disruptive actions?
According to the police, the at least two drones are not hobby aircraft. They are meant for professional use. According to the authorities, there were initially no indications of a terrorist background. The police counted more than 50 drone sightings in the first 24 hours after the flight stopped. According to media reports, the investigators are investigating whether possibly a radical eco-activist could be behind the disruption maneuver.
London Gatwick Airport is located south of the British capital and is the second largest in the country after Heathrow. Each year, 45 million passengers are handled there, although the airport has only one runway.
