A real reminder of how much trouble tech disruption can cause to any "just in time" system like air travel. Airport has been closed 2-3 days now. Repeated intrusions do look sinister and designed to disrupt at this point. Huge mess for the Brits on top of Brexit.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-sussex-46623754
Tens of thousands of passengers have been disrupted by drones flying over one of the UK's busiest airports.
Gatwick's runway has been shut since Wednesday night, when two devices were seen flying over the perimeter fence.
The airport said a drone had been spotted "in the last hour" and the runway would not open "until it was safe to do so".
About 110,000 passengers on 760 flights were due to fly on Thursday. Disruption could last "several days".
Those due to travel have been told to check the status of their flight, while Easyjet told its passengers not to go to Gatwick if their flights have been cancelled.
Gatwick Airport: Live updates
Sussex Police said it was not terror-related but a "deliberate act" of disruption.
Dr Alan McKenna, from the University of Kent, said the drones appeared to be "of an industrial size" not "one you can buy from the shops".
What happened?
The shutdown started just after 21:00 GMT on Wednesday, when two drones were spotted flying "over the perimeter fence and into where the runway operates from".
The runway briefly reopened at 03:01 but was closed again about 45 minutes later amid "a further sighting of drones".
Gatwick chief operating officer Chris Woodroofe said: "The police are looking for the operator and that is the way to disable the drone."
He said police had not wanted to shoot the devices down because of the risk from stray bullets.
He said it remained unsafe to reopen the airport after the drone had been spotted to close to the runway.
Mr Woodroofe said: "If we were to reopen today we will first repatriate passengers who are in the wrong place which could take several days."
How have passengers been affected?
About 10,000 passengers were affected overnight on Wednesday and Gatwick said 110,000 people were due to either take off or land at the airport on Thursday.
Incoming planes were diverted to other airports including London Heathrow, Luton, Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff, Glasgow, Paris and Amsterdam.
Crowds of travellers have spent the morning waiting inside Gatwick's terminal for updates, while others reported being stuck on grounded planes for hours.
Are you waiting for your flight at Gatwick Airport? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
A Gatwick spokeswoman said extra staff had been brought in and the airport was "trying their best" to provide food and water to those who needed it.
About 11,000 people are struck at the airport, Mr Woodroofe said.
A number of flights bound for Gatwick were diverted to other airports overnight, including seven to Luton, 11 to Stansted and five to Manchester. Other flights have landed at Cardiff, Birmingham and Southend.
Drones shut down major UK airport for days
Re: Drones shut down major UK airport for days
Shotguns with bird shot are all you need to take out a drone. Then the "stray" bullets will just be small bird shot that rains down.
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Re: Drones shut down major UK airport for days
That's what I was thinking, however I can imagine some people are a little nervous about having any kind of debris flying around planes.
Christians warn us about the anti-christ for 2,000 years, and when he shows up, they buy a bible from him.
Re: Drones shut down major UK airport for days
True but it sounds like the drones are out at the edges of the airport near runways and not terminals. Or better yet get a drone of your own and drop a net on the offending drone from above.