Gatwick Airport experienced a multi-hour shutdown last month after reports of drones being flown over the airfield.
The airport announced on its Twitter account that operations were suspended on Wednesday evening while authorities investigated the unmanned aircraft. Although a limited reopening occurred in the early hours of Thursday, effective flight operations remained disrupted throughout the day.
The incident affected approximately 120,000 passengers and caused significant delays and cancellations. In response, British Airways posted a notice on its website explaining that it was operating flights to and from London Gatwick but that some disruption was expected following Thursday’s closure. The airline offered affected customers traveling to or from Gatwick on Friday 21 December a range of rebooking and refund options.
Airports and airlines have increasingly stressed the safety risks posed by drones near airfields, and this event highlighted the need for continued vigilance and coordination between aviation authorities, police and airport operators to prevent similar disruptions. Passengers impacted by the closure were advised to check with their airline for the latest travel information and available remedies.