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Great news for anyone worried that Brexit was making Britain a laughing stock: because now a couple of drones have shut the country\u2019s second busiest airport for almost a day, which means everyone is laughing about that instead.<\/p>\n
Gatwick airport has, at the time of writing, been shut for almost a day because drones are being flown over the runway. Is this the aviation version of the classic excuse given for trains being canceled? Is \u2018drones over the runway\u2019 the new \u2018leaves on the line\u2019?<\/p>\n
There are some critics out there suggesting that perhaps airports should be able to deal with this issue a little quicker than a day, especially as the authorities have already said they don\u2019t believe it is terrorist related. If it turns out to be a young boy trying out an early Christmas present related instead then there are going to be some extremely red faces.<\/p>\n
Am I the only one confused that air traffic control can track a Boeing 747 flying from Papua New Guinea, but no one can monitor some drones?<\/p>\n So far environmental campaigners have been quick to deny rumors that they are behind the incident, and to be fair to them they probably had no idea how easy it would be to cause chaos and shut down an international airport.<\/p>\n Aviation Minister Liz Sugg has said in response that: \u201cI am in no way complacent about this issue. We have been working incredibly hard on it all morning.\u201d<\/em> The. Whole. Morning. That will reassure the tens of thousands of passengers who are watching their Christmas being ruined.<\/p>\n Sugg also offered reassurance that: \u201cAll relevant parts of government including the Department for Transport, Home Office and the Ministry of Defence, are involved in the response.\u201d<\/em> It\u2019s not immediately obvious why three major government departments failing to deal with some drones over an airport is supposed to make anyone feel better.<\/p>\n 14.15: Our runway is still closed because of drone sightings. Flights are cancelled up to at least 16.00 today, while we constantly review the situation. Please do not set out for the airport for your flight without checking with your airline first. We’re sorry for the disruption<\/p>\n
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\n Also on rt.com<\/span>
\n London\u2019s Gatwick airport shut down over drone sighting<\/span>
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