UK police release two people arrested in Gatwick drone investigation

By Paul Sandle

 

A police car is parked outside a house, after a drone was flown near Gatwick Airport, forcing the airport to close, in Crawley, Britain December 23, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

 

LONDON (Reuters) - British police on Sunday released without charge two people arrested in an inquiry into the illegal use of drones at London's Gatwick Airport that crippled operations for three days last week.

 

Sussex Police arrested a 47-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman from the local area late on Friday after drones were flown onto the airfield between Wednesday and Friday, forcing about 1,000 flights to be diverted or cancelled and affecting 140,000 passengers.

 

"Both people have fully co-operated with our inquiries, and I am satisfied that they are no longer suspects in the drone incidents at Gatwick," Detective Chief Superintendent Jason Tingley said on Sunday.

 

The two were held after information was passed to the police by a member of the public, Tingley told Sky News. He said he was confident the arrests were justified.

 

He said authorities were continuing to actively follow lines of investigation to catch those responsible for the most disruptive incursions from unmanned aerial vehicles seen at any major airport.

 

A damaged drone had been recovered a close to the perimeter of the airport, he said, and it was being forensically examined, for example for clues about whether it was controlled remotely from afar or by somebody in the vicinity.

 

No group has claimed responsibility for the disruption.

 

"We have kept an open mind throughout and that is still the case with regards to the motivation behind these incidents," he said.

 

The drones were spotted at Britain's second-largest airport on Wednesday evening, forcing it to close its runway in the run up to Christmas. Every time the airport sought to reopen the runway on Thursday, the drones returned.

 

Authorities finally regained control over the airfield after the army deployed unidentified military technology to guard the area, reassuring the airport that it was safe enough to fly.

 

The drones caused misery for travellers, many sleeping on the airport floor as they searched for alternative routes to holidays and Christmas family gatherings.

 

Airlines operating at Gatwick, which is located south of London, include easyJet, British Airways and Norwegian.

 

The airport said on Sunday it was offering a reward of 50,000 pounds ($63,275) for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

 

It said it was expecting to operate a full schedule of 785 flights on Sunday, although a small number of delays and cancellations could occur as the airport fully recovered.

 

($1 = 0.7902 pounds)

 

(Reporting by Paul Sandle; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Alison Williams)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-12-24

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/12/23/police-admit-may-never-have-gatwick-drone/

Ok dear! What is going on in Blighty? A simplistic referendum with no thought as to how a No vote could be implemented leaves the country heading towards a precipice, and now people are seeing drones where none exist!

Looks like the UK is heading for 'interesting times'.

25 minutes ago, kwan said:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/12/23/police-admit-may-never-have-gatwick-drone/

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

A damaged drone had been recovered a close to the perimeter of the airport, he said, and it was being forensically examined, for example for clues about whether it was controlled remotely from afar or by somebody in the vicinity.

Seems there is conflict on the reporting. In the Reuters report, he never mentioned the possibility of it never happening.

What happened?

Won’t post links as I don’t know if the Independent, etc are not allowed here but authorities are admitting “possibly there was no dronn” and this this reaction eas a massive cock-up. These devices remIain a huge threat to aviation and should be BANNED over a minimal size without strict Pilot Licensing and registration. A queer hobby flying around peeping at people!

 

 

 

Oh dear. These two people had already been hung drawn and quartered by many people not in possession of any facts.

 

Apologies all around is the new order of the day.

After being cleared just publish their car number plate for good measure merry Christmas ???? 

British police can not organise a p*** in a brewery. Flabbergasted ????

As straight away ,the guys boss and co workers came foreward to say he was working miles away when it happened , i just cannot see why it took the police so long to release them ,total c_ck up from start to finish

3 hours ago, kwan said:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/12/23/police-admit-may-never-have-gatwick-drone/

Maybe it was St. Nick...

Gatwick, Brexit....Britain has become a farce.

That annoying POS Piers Morgan called the couple clowns. When they were released he apologized. I wonder when the TV "Hang Them High Club" will man up and do the same?

Is there any proof that there ever were any drones over Gatwick ?

Is there any proof that there were any drones ? None at all

Probably the Russians did it to test the security, and plan a remote drone attack. 

They are already out of the country and back in Mother Russia . .