Old Dec 20, 2018, 5:24 am
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Last edit by: Canarsie
Travelling to of from London Gatwick 21 December 2018
All LGW services operated on Friday with 2 exceptions (BA2758/0 to AMS and back; BA2938/9 EDI and back). Many flights were heavily delayed.
List of inbound BA diversions from latest closure is in post 463
Incomplete list of inbound cancellations for Friday 21 December is here in post 298.

Current customer guidelines in this post 344 (you can rebook free of charge to 5 January and reroute via LHR/LCY). Try rebooking via the App if you can, otherwise you need to telephone BA.

Background
Gatwick Airport was closed at 21:03 on Wednesday 19 December following reports of drones flying over the airfield. Sightings have continued throughout Thursday 20 December requiring the airport to remain closed. Gatwick Airport advising all passengers to check the status of their flights before travelling to the airport. Gatwick airport was further closed on Friday 21 December from 17:00 until 18:25 at which time normal operations resumed after suspected drone sightings.

Previous updates
Current list of cancelled and diverted services
Post 96 and Post 132 and Post 184
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LGW closed due to drone activity

Old Dec 21, 2018, 11:37 am
  #496  
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 585
Originally Posted by Basi1
Appreciate it may change but any of the staffers able to tell me which aircraft is due to operate BA2776 to JER please?
G-DBCJ, currently at a delay of just over 2hrs.
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Old Dec 21, 2018, 11:38 am
  #497  
 
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Looks like things are moving again

Spike
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Old Dec 21, 2018, 11:39 am
  #498  
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
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A Gatwick spokeswoman has said that military measures are now in place meaning it is safe to fly despite "a confirmed sighting of a drone"
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Old Dec 21, 2018, 11:40 am
  #499  
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
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U2 3894 (RAK-STN) landed at LGW ??
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Old Dec 21, 2018, 11:43 am
  #500  
 
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Originally Posted by FlyingScientist
U2 3894 (RAK-STN) made go-around at LGW ??
It is on ground in LGW now.

EZY3814 (FNC-BOH) has also just diverted to LGW.
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Old Dec 21, 2018, 11:45 am
  #501  
 
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Originally Posted by bisonrav
Was just told that all mobile networks went down for a few minutes prior to takeoffs recommencing.
Very interesting, so presumably someone authorised the use of broad spectrum frequency jamming.
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Old Dec 21, 2018, 11:46 am
  #502  
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
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Awful disruption and genuine empathy with all .

Where’s the contingencies planning? The police , airport etc.. shocking response...drones have been in use and used to commit criminal offences around the world these last 5 years plus - including places where UK plc has responded! Utter nonsense to see a Chief Supt on tv say its a learning curve!
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Old Dec 21, 2018, 11:50 am
  #503  
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
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Originally Posted by MFCC


G-DBCJ, currently at a delay of just over 2hrs.
Thanks! It’s actually just landed at LGW as it never touched down at Stansted so hopefully won’t be too bad.
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Old Dec 21, 2018, 11:55 am
  #504  
 
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Originally Posted by Telecasterman
Awful disruption and genuine empathy with all .

Where’s the contingencies planning? The police , airport etc.. shocking response...drones have been in use and used to commit criminal offences around the world these last 5 years plus - including places where UK plc has responded! Utter nonsense to see a Chief Supt on tv say its a learning curve!
These situations are difficult to deal with inherently. It's really very unfair to criticise people attempting to deal safely with fast moving low level drones in the dark in a fairly densely populated area. It does seem that effective countermeasures have been put in place in around 24 hours, which is pretty impressive - there's your contingency plan for you. And of course it's a learning curve, this situation hasn't happened before anywhere.

I do understand that people believe there are simple instant solutions. But there really aren't. There may or may not be control signals - the drones may be on pre-programmed courses. There is a lot of countryside around Gatwick to hide in. I think it's been dealt with pretty well, the worst case would have been days of this.
flygirl68, Stez, squawk and 2 others like this.
bisonrav is online now  
Old Dec 21, 2018, 11:58 am
  #505  
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,074
Gatwick Airport is accepting traffic. Limited acceptance rate has been applied.
High delays.
Sigwx is offline  
Old Dec 21, 2018, 11:59 am
  #506  
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,209
QR331(approaching LGW) just about to wave to QR328 (waiting for take-off)...
FlyingScientist is offline  
Old Dec 21, 2018, 12:00 pm
  #507  
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,074
Originally Posted by basi1
appreciate it may change but any of the staffers able to tell me which aircraft is due to operate ba2776 to jer please?
ba 2776 g-dbcj

ba 2778 g-dbcc
Sigwx is offline  
Old Dec 21, 2018, 12:05 pm
  #508  
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
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Originally Posted by bisonrav
the worst case would have been days of this.
The worst case is they ignored the drone continued to operate and for the drone to cause a crash.
sahajesh and marconess like this.
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Old Dec 21, 2018, 12:10 pm
  #509  
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Good luck to everyone trying to get into or out of LGW. I hope they throw the book at this scumbag when/if they hold of whoever it is.
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Old Dec 21, 2018, 12:20 pm
  #510  
 
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