DRONING ON
Heathrow drone sighting confirmed by police as military deployed weeks after Gatwick shutdown
Commander Stuart Cundy said police officers were amongst those who spotted the drone this evening
POLICE have confirmed a drone was spotted over Heathrow this evening - and said the military has been brought in to assist in the investigation.
The sighting today sparked travel chaos for thousands just weeks after the chaotic Gatwick shutdown.
14
Flights have now resumed after airport bosses halted departures for around an hour while investigating the reports of a drone.
Now cops have said police officers were amongst those who spotted the drone and ";military assistance" has been implemented to support the "extensive searches" around the Heathrow area.
Frustrated passengers at the airport - which has an estimated 200,000 people departing each day - took to social media to share pictures and videos of the grounded flights.
Passengers reported seeing a police helicopter overhead while another told The Sun Online they were on the tarmac when the airport suspended all operations.
A video supposedly showing the drone over the area was obtained by The Sun Online.
Have you been affected by the grounded flights at Heathrow Airport? Call 020 7782 4368 or email [email protected]
Military deployed after Heathrow drone sighting weeks after Gatwick shutdown
14
14
14
In a statement on the incident this evening, Commander Stuart Cundy, said: "Police officers were amongst those who saw the drone and a full criminal investigation has been launched. We are carrying out extensive searches around the Heathrow area to identify any people who may be responsible for the operation of the drone.
“I want to be clear that the illegal operation of drones at an airfield is extremely dangerous. Under the Aviation Security Act it is an offence to endanger the safety of an aircraft, anyone found guilty of this offence could face a life sentence.
“We are deploying significant resources - both in terms of officers and equipment - to monitor the airspace around Heathrow and to quickly detect and disrupt any illegal drone activity; some of which are as a result of learning from the incidents at Gatwick.
“Following today's sighting, military assistance has been implemented to support us. However, we will not be discussing in any further detail the range of tactics available to us as this would only serve to potentially undermine their effectiveness."
14
14
14
He added: "We are determined to identify anyone who may have been involved in today's incident and I would urge anybody who may have information that could assist our investigation to call 101 quoting Heathrow drone incident."
Earlier this evening, Heathrow Airport said: "We continue to work closely with the Met Police to respond to reports of drones at Heathrow.
"Based on standard operating procedures, working with Air Traffic Control and the Met Police, we have resumed departures out of Heathrow following a short suspension.
"We continue to monitor this situation and apologise to any passengers that were affected by this disruption."
14
Military deployed after Heathrow drone sighting weeks after Gatwick shutdown
A police helicopter was hovering close to the airport, witnesses have reported.
Heathrow passengers took to social media this evening after flights were halted due to the drone.
In a short video posted on Twitter, a flashing object can be seen in the sky above the airport.
In the tweet, the user said: "On a plane waiting to take off at Heathrow and we are grounded as there is a “drone” flying over the airport. Police helicopter over the runway. Hope it is just a drone."
One passenger said: "On the plane, waiting to taxi and get held back thanks to 'reports of a drone flying over Heathrow runway."
They continued: "The irony is I usually fly out of Gatwick but decided to fly Heathrow instead."
Another said: "Well who would've thought that shortly after Gatwick I'd be sitting in a plane at Heathrow waiting for another drone to be removed from the runway area."
And another woman added: "Sat on the tarmac at Heathrow due to another DRONE incident ffs..... Who even are these drone losers."
In a Tweet, the Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling said: "We are in contact with @HeathrowAirport concerning the drone sighting.
"I have already spoken to both the Home Secretary and Defence Secretary and the military are preparing to deploy the equipment used at Gatwick at Heathrow quickly should it prove necessary."
Katy Hamilton was aboard her Air Lingus flight to Dublin when the pilot said they weren’t going to be able to take off.
She told The Sun Online: “We are sat on the tarmac as a drone sighting was announced and all operations are suspended while investigated."
14
14
“We were meant to be taxi-ing for taking off and but are not at the stand on the plane. I think everyone was a bit ‘here we go again’
“The idea of being stuck on the tarmac for ages is not appealing. I think we all know this could be a long wait or a cancelled flight. It’s a bit cold on here so coats on. People are getting fidgety now and going to the loo.”
The halting of Heathrow departures comes just weeks after 140,000 passengers had their Christmas travel plans plunged into chaos by drones at Gatwick Airport.
Some 1,000 flights were cancelled or diverted while police investigated dozens of sightings during three days of disruptions.
14
Sussex Police have been blasted over the "appalling investigation" and said they found a "damaged" machine close to the airport.
Paul Gait, 47, and wife Elaine Kirk, 54, were released without charge after being arrested over the chaos that brought Gatwick to its knees.
Ministers for the Department of Transport branded police communication a "mess up" - after they backtracked over whether there was a drone in the first place.
The Army employed "drone killer" tech used in fight against ISIS as the cat and mouse game between the moronic drone pilot and authorities continued.
14
14
The £2.6million technology uses a radio frequency jammer to crash drones.
Following the end to the initial drone-related disturbance at Gatwick, Security Minister Ben Wallace said: "I can say that we are able to now deploy detection systems throughout the UK to combat this threat."
On Tuesday, the Government announced a package of measures designed to give police extra powers to combat drones.
The exclusion zone around airports will be extended to approximately a 5km-radius (3.1-miles), with additional extensions from runway ends.
14
Ministers also announced that from November 30 operators of drones, weighing between 250g and 20kg, will be required to register and take an online drone pilot competency test.
Police will also be able to issue fixed-penalty notices for minor drone offences to ensure immediate and effective enforcement of the new rules.
READ MORE IN UK NEWS
Fines of up to £100 could be given for offences such as failing to comply with a police officer when instructed to land a drone, or not showing their registration to operate a drone.
But drone expert Richard Gill told The Sun all airports urgently needed jamming technology to stop unmanned craft from getting close to runways.
He said: “Legislation is not enough. Airports have got to have the technology that’s already out there.”
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.