Paphos Life

Just said on the radio that this is now having a knock on effect at other Airports as the flights incoming are being diverted causing delays everywhere.

Glad I haven't got to fly anywhere.

It mystifies me why they are legal, surely all they can be used for is to spy on people, fly drugs into prisons, and cause disruption as in this case, they should be banned.

Jackie

Not at all. Used properly in the right locations, they can produce excellent images and film, and be fun.

This is why they have laws.

I don't know any of the facts about this particular incident, but something has clearly spooked the authorities.

According to the Sussex Police twitter feed, the drones used were of an "industrial specification". God, just imagine if it turns out to be Amazon trying out a new delivery system...

Last I heard on BBC news it's thought that it is deliberate and authorities are trying to identify.

I have a couple and I follow the laws of Cyprus when using them. They are registered with the authorities and I keep away from restricted areas. As Dominic said, they are another aspect of photography and great fun to use.
Unfortunately you can't account for idiots in any walk of life.
Jim

Now bringing in the military

You cannot fly close to airports and not above 120m in the UK - so this is law-breaking and deliberate obstruction. There are pulse guns available to take them down, but police either dont have them, or dont want to use them....

Friends delayed from departing LCA to LGW on Easyjet today until revised departure on Saturday - certainly screwed up their plans.

The incident at Gatwick shows that UK National Security is seriously flawed and the Government are at fault for not having robust and effective counter measures against drones.

Given how long it has taken for the government to call up the military one must assume that any drones flying over sensitive locations like nuclear sites, military bases or secret installations (Porton Down) would be dealt with differently and quickly or maybe not, worryingly.

Mmmmm,why don't they just shoot it down.

Because they have yet to find it.
The Airport is reportedly opening at 7pm UK time, But as you can imagine it will be chaos with planes in the wrong place

From what's just been on BBC news I think that may be the plan chaddy.

Earlier it was said that there was a concern over stray bullets....

Having grown up near firing ranges I can assure you that stray bullets can be a problem!

I think part of the issue may also have been they were trying to trace the source, not just take the drones out.

I think it would be a good time to revisit this page from a very informative & prestigeous web site that was posted a few months ago

There is a video on one of the posts that may explain some of the concerns @ Gatwick, especially if some intelligence has come to light in the last few days

viewtopic.php?f=62&t=7200

You would think they could bring down a drone with another "killer drone " designed for the purpose ,just smash it out of the sky?

It would appear that for all the security measures at Gatwick and presumably at other airports (checking passengers for liquid containers, their shoes, belts and watches etc) there is no counter measures against someone buying a drone at any high street store and flying it into a passenger plane.

ISIS have been using drones for years in the Middle East. Nothing stopping them using drones in the UK, so it would seem.

Police are now saying that shooting the drones down is a possibility.