Drone Sightings Force Major British Airport to Close

A major airport south of London, England, has been forced to suspend all flights after drones were spotted flying over the airfield.

Per reports, two drones were seen flying over an airfield at Gatwick Airport on Wednesday evening, 19 December. British legislation states that drones cannot be flown near aircraft or airports, or at an altitude of over 122 metres, as they pose a serious safety risk.

Gatwick had to close its runway, forcing flights to be halted and more than two dozen incoming flights to be diverted to other airports.

The runway was reopened at 3am this morning, but it was closed again after 45 minutes when the drones were spotted once more. By 7am, the drones were still seen hovering near the airfield.

Gatwick’s chief operating officer, Chris Woodroofe, told a local news outlet that 10 000 people have been affected by the closure, including 2 000 whose flights had been unable to take off.

Woodroofe added that the police are on the hunt for the drones’ pilot so that they can be disabled.