At least two drones behind attack on Gatwick Airport at Christmas

‘At least two drones’ were behind the attack which caused major disruption at Gatwick Airport in December, a police investigation has concluded.
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More than 100,000 people and 1,000 flights were affected when the major airport was shut down for 30 hours just days before Christmas after sightings of drones above its airfield. Read more here

Following an investigation, lasting more than nine months, Sussex Police has ‘concluded that at least two drones were behind the attack’.

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The county police force said the investigation, with support from national expertise, identified, researched and ‘ruled out 96 people of interest’.

Police at Gatwick Airport after drone sightings in DecemberPolice at Gatwick Airport after drone sightings in December
Police at Gatwick Airport after drone sightings in December

Police also said the incident was not deemed terror-related and there is ‘no evidence to suggest’ it was either state-sponsored, campaign or interest-group led.

No further arrests have been made, police confirmed.

‘No further realistic lines of enquiry’

Assistant Chief Constable Dave Miller, head of operations command, said: “This was a serious and deliberate criminal act designed to endanger airport operations and the safety of the travelling public.

“A drone strike can cause significant damage to an aircraft in flight and it is important to emphasise that public safety was always at the forefront of our response. No aircraft was damaged or passenger injured.

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“This was an unprecedented set of circumstances for all agencies involved at a time when the police and the Government were at the early stages of assessing domestic counter drone technology.

“Equipment was quickly installed using both military and private assets to bring it to a conclusion and allow the airport to reopen. Measures now available have strengthened our capability to respond to and investigate a similar incident in the future.

“With support from national experts, we have carried out an exhaustive criminal investigation but, without new information coming to light, there are no further realistic lines of enquiry at this time.”

Investigation ‘centred on 129 separate sightings’

Gatwick Policing Command works with the airport and airlines to protect public safety and prevent and detect criminal activity, police said.

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“Overall responsibility for airspace safety rests with the airport authority and relevant Government agencies,” a police spokesperson added.

“The police investigation has centred on 129 separate sightings of drone activity, 109 of these from credible witnesses used to working in a complex airport environment including a pilot, airport workers and airport police.

“Through corroborated witness statements, it is established that at least two drones were in operation during this period and the offender, or multiple offenders, had detailed knowledge of the airport.”

Police said witness statements showed that activity happened in ‘groupings’ across the three days on 12 separate occasions, varying in length from between seven and 45 minutes.

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On six of these occasions, witnesses ‘clearly saw two drones operating simultaneously’, police revealed.

The spokesperson continued: “The significant police response required resources from seven UK police forces as well as national expertise in policing, government and the private sector.

“The policing operation and subsequent investigation has cost £790,000 and is not expected to increase further, with the bulk of the cost relating to the operational police response. Mutual aid, taken with additional officer shifts, ensured frontline policing services in Sussex remained unaffected.

“Sussex Police continues to share learning from the incident across policing and other relevant agencies both across the UK and internationally.”

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Sussex Police said its response to the incident will be a ‘key focus’ of police and crime commissioner Katy Bourne’s next performance and accountability meeting on Friday, October 18 at 12 noon.