Gatwick airport drones investigation focuses on damaged device

Sussex Police said Monday they were investigating "numerous illegal drone sightings," after earlier appearing to raise the possibility that a drone might not have been flown near the UK's second-biggest airport in the first place.

The pre-Christmas travel plans of about 150,000 passengers were hit hard during 36 hours of disruption.

Two people arrested near Gatwick were released without charge on Sunday. Police said thehe 47-year-old man and 54-year-old woman had co-operated fully and were no longer suspects. A number of UK newspapers named the couple.

The cause of the disruption remains unclear on Monday. Detective Chief Superintendent Jason Tingley said the damaged drone was discovered in Horley, near the airport's perimeter.

"Obviously we will be doing everything we can with regards to forensically examining that drone and that is something that is being fast-tracked and expedited," he told Sky News on Sunday.

In his Sky News interview, Tingley raised the possibility that there may have never been a drone flown close to Gatwick in the first place. "Of course, that's a possibility. We are working with human beings saying they have seen something," he said.

In a later statement issued Monday, Tingley said police were "actively investigating" 67 reports of drones between December 19 to December 21 from members of the public, passengers, police officers and airport staff. Detectives were interviewing those who reported drone sightings and carrying out house-to-house inquiries, he said.

How can a drone bring an airport to a standstill?

Gatwick Airport has offered a £50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the drones that disrupted flights for two days affecting about 150,000 passengers.

The incident revealed how vulnerable the UK airport system is to disruption and even attacks by drones.

In an interview with the Sunday Times, UK security minister Ben Wallace said al Qaeda, the terror group behind the 9/11 attacks, was plotting to carry out new atrocities against airports and airliners.

The newspaper quoted security sources saying sketches of drones designed to deliver bombs were discovered during a recent terrorist investigation in the UK.

Let's block ads! (Why?)