Drones Interrupt International Flights
London's Metropolitan police and the British military are helping Heathrow Airport management after a drone was sighted at the Airport. Flights from Heathrow West were suspended for an hour, before resuming later in the day.
The drone was sighted just before 5pm on Tuesday 8th January. Some police officers from other forces have suggested that the earlier Gatwick Airport shutdown was due to misuse by Sussex police of their own drones. although Sussex Police deny the allegation. Sussex have five Aeyyon SkyRangers that have cameras and cost £64k.
Gatwick Airport has recently spent almost £5m on anti-drone apparatus after the airport had to shut down because of drones being reported around the airfield and Heathrow has said it has also now got the equipment to help control visiting drones.
Heathrow Airport said: “The safety of our passengers and colleagues remains our top priority. Working closely with relevant authorities including the Police, we are constantly looking at the best technologies that help remove the threat of drones.”
The UK government has legislation which attempts to stop drones from flying 400ft above or within 1km of all airports. However, legislation ensuring drone owners register and take safety tests does not come into action until November 2019.
Gatwick previously had a near-drone collision with an aircraft in July 2017. An investigation found that the drone “was endangering other aircraft at that location and altitude” and that “a definite risk of collision had existed”.
Gatwick Airport has put forward a £50,000 reward, through Crimestoppers, and another £10,000 has been put up by the charity's chairman Lord Ashcroft to catch the culprits responsible for the drone problem, which affected 140,000 passengers and meant travelling was shut down.
You Might Also Read:
Munich Airport Receives Accreditation For Cybersecurity Training:
