London Gatwick airport closed overnight due to drones

[nekkid]

LGW closed due to drones

Two drones spotted at the airport resulted in it being closed from 9 pm to 3 am and then closed again 45 minutes later. Further disruption expected today.

Flying a drone in this way is punishable by up to 5 years in prison in the UK. I hope the perpertrators are found and prosecuted.

I'd like to see that happen to those who publish similar footage on the internet, such as on Youtube.

 

[Cropped Shaggy]

Whoever's responsible for this needs to have the absolute shit kicked out of them.

[nekkid]

Just now, Cropped Shaggy said:

Whoever's responsible for this needs to have the absolute shit kicked out of them.

A stiff talking to at the very least.

I hope the authorities will come up with some kind of counter measure to disable a drone in this kind of circumstance. Also, that it will become socially unacceptable to fly a drone unlicensed or unregistered or irresponsibly. I imagine that those many passengers inconvenienced by this event would intervene in the future if they saw someone flying a drone.

[Pinoydave]

Finding someone is going to be a needle in a haystack 

[Cropped Shaggy]

46 minutes ago, nekkid said:

A stiff talking to at the very least.

I hope the authorities will come up with some kind of counter measure to disable a drone in this kind of circumstance. Also, that it will become socially unacceptable to fly a drone unlicensed or unregistered or irresponsibly. I imagine that those many passengers inconvenienced by this event would intervene in the future if they saw someone flying a drone.

Agreed, it's quite concerning really just how apparently easy it is to bring about so much chaos. I'm surprised this hasn't happened more often tbh, given some of the utter fuckwits our society is composed of.

[Rainsberger]

Could not have happened at a worst time being the busy Christmas get away feel very sorry for the 120,000 people who's plans have gone pear shaped, and all the people stuck on planes on the Runway for up to 6 hours with nowhere to go.

They really need to do something about this new drone problem arising the misuse of drones and bring in a new law to prevent what's happening today like a jail sentence if caught we are talking about health and saftey here after all.

[nekkid]

Just now, Rainsberger said:

Could not have happened at a worst time being the busy Christmas get away feel very sorry for the 120,000 people who's plans have gone pear shaped, and all the people stuck on planes on the runway for up to 6 hours with nowhere to go.

They really need to do something about this new drone problem arising the misuse of drones and bring in a new law to prevent what's happening today like a jail sentence if caught we are talking about health and saftey here after all.

It must be hugely frustrating for those people whose holidays have been ruined.

I find the situation frustrating and annoying and I'm not even affected by it as they are. It seems the UK authorities have no effective response, which is not a good look.

[Dazza118]

Should of just shot them down and been done with it.

[vimto66]

Simple solution....ban them, people wont like it but the potential consequences are too severe.

[nekkid]

Just now, vimto66 said:

Simple solution....ban them, people wont like it but the potential consequences are too severe.

I expect restrictions on use will be increased and the penalties for abuse. I don't expect they will be banned as they are incredibly useful when deployed for lawful purposes.

[vimto66]

Just now, nekkid said:

I expect restrictions on use will be increased and the penalties for abuse. I don't expect they will be banned as they are incredibly useful when deployed for lawful purposes.

Yes i suppose when i was on about a ban i meant to the public in general.Some would say just ban selling them to children but some of the idiots using them will be old enough to know better anyway, they obviously have their uses when used properly, as you say they probably wont be banned, but any misuse should dealt with strictly harshly.

[Stillearly]

Should be licensed and all drones registered to the owner 

[nekkid]

Just now, vimto66 said:

Yes i suppose when i was on about a ban i meant to the public in general.Some would say just ban selling them to children but some of the idiots using them will be old enough to know better anyway, they obviously have their uses when used properly, as you say they probably wont be banned, but any misuse should dealt with strictly harshly.

Although by the accounts I've read so far, this is not some idiot with a £50 quad copter bought from Dixons but a determined and deliberate attempt to disrupt the operation of a major international airport using industrial grade drones which I believe can cost thousands of pounds.

Frustrating though this incident is I'm not sure I would like to see them completely banned for use by the general public - although I don't imagine I'll ever want to use one myself, for example. Always a difficult job to find the right level of regulation in a free country, and better controls and counter measures are clearly needed to avoid a recurrence of this kind of madness.

[vimto66]

Just now, Stillearly said:

Should be licensed and all drones registered to the owner 

 

Just now, nekkid said:

Although by the accounts I've read so far, this is not some idiot with a £50 quad copter bought from Dixons but a determined and deliberate attempt to disrupt the operation of a major international airport using industrial grade drones which I believe can cost thousands of pounds.

Frustrating though this incident is I'm not sure I would like to see them completely banned for use by the general public - although I don't imagine I'll ever want to use one myself, for example. Always a difficult job to find the right level of regulation in a free country, and better controls and counter measures are clearly needed to avoid a recurrence of this kind of madness.

The morons who caused this incident, and drunken obnoxious people who cause disruption on flights should be charged with terrorist offences.

[nekkid]

Just now, vimto66 said:

 

The morons who caused this incident, and drunken obnoxious people who cause disruption on flights should be charged with terrorist offences.

I have been wondering if any US airlines which may have suffered economic losses as a result of this incident would be minded to seek extradition to go on trial in the US, where the penalties might be more severe than in the UK.

I don't know if there's any mileage in such a notion, or if it's just a wild idea.

I wonder also who has done this and why. Seems a bit extreme for a disgruntled employee. Maybe an environmental pressure group?

[ronthebrummie]

A retired West Mids copper I know, posted this- 

GATWICK!!!  Major disruption to passengers and would be passengers plus a massive loss of revenue and yet this has been happening for 15 hours or more and there is No official video or photographic evidence been released to share with the World...  There's a reason for that. It's not a drone or drones.

he reckons an industrial done coming on to runways every 30 minutes would be shot down, so work that one out?

[frankstain]

Something i've been wondering about is how any one would have the attention span to drive/pilot a drone for so long and the battery life of that drone. 

[davidge]

Just now, frankstain said:

Something i've been wondering about is how any one would have the attention span to drive/pilot a drone for so long and the battery life of that drone. 

From what I can gather, though not much information is being released, it just appears every now and then.

TBH, I find it staggering that something like this can cause so much disruption. Don’t think we have any hope if anyone actually attacks us.

[frankstain]

Just now, davidge said:

From what I can gather, though not much information is being released, it just appears every now and then.

TBH, I find it staggering that something like this can cause so much disruption. Don’t think we have any hope if anyone actually attacks us.

I guess if it appears every now and then its potentially going back for a battery swap.  I am also in disbelief on how slow authorities have been acting on this matter, but not really surprised either

[nekkid]

Just now, frankstain said:

I guess if it appears every now and then its potentially going back for a battery swap.  I am also in disbelief on how slow authorities have been acting on this matter, but not really surprised either

I was reminded of the London riots several years ago when the police response was criticised for being similarly ineffective. Plod has been caught flat footed, again, was my first thought. Should have called in the military a lot sooner, or hired in private sector experts - although I've since seen a US firm that specialises in this kind of incident quoted as saying that it typically takes a couple of days to eliminate a rogue drone.

[Rainsberger]

Well the police have asked the MOD now for help in trying to find the operator and have called on the army to help the police think it's time to shoot the drone's down and end this total farce.

[Sloracer]

One of my clients sells anti drone technology, their business is growing rapidly.

they have technology which allows them to capture the drone and then bring it done for interrogation. Or they can jusr vapourise them.

[Biennial]

How are drones much more dangerous than birds? Why the paranoia? Do we shoot down birds?

Do we close airports because of birds?

Have birds brought down planes? (Yes!!)

[Stokielad]

Just to reiterate, this is a deliberate attempt at widescale travel disruption using some serious hardware. There is no link between these an the drone bought and owned by a member of the public which at best can fly on one charge for about 20 minutes!.

To apply draconian measures on the ownership and use of drones above the regulations already in place would be a nonsensical response. Mind you the actions of the police are also incredibly poor. Terrorists must looking at this and rubbing their hands. Get a large industrial drone for about £3k, add a 10 KG bomb of semtex and nails and fly at pretty much any strategic target as it is clear the police have fuck all as a plan.

[nekkid]

Given the apparent sophistication and timing of this attack I do wonder if it might be state sponsored.