Bob Whysman
- Registered: 23 Aug 2013
- Posts: 1,948
#1
Gatwick has just closed again because of drone activity. Living near the flight path has been very quiet for a day or so but consider those who are having their Christmas holidays ruined.
Only a matter of time I fear before there’s a major incident.
Look at this poor pilots meandering over Sussex.
Jan Higgins likes this
Do nothing and nothing happens.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#2
I just hope they catch those responsible, considering the disruption to individuals and businesses that they have caused, the maximum of 5yrs in prison would be far to lenient a sentence.
This is obviously a highly organised crime not some idiot simply making a nuisance of themselves.
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#3
Favourite at the moment is an environmental activists group but I wouldn't put it past our friend in the Kremlin disrespecting us.
Captain Haddock
- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,397
#4
If I were a betting man I'd put a few bob on protesters about the Stanstead 15.
I suspect this would have been 'resolved' hours ago if it had happened at Ben Gurion Airport! Just saying.
"The world is still a weird place, despite my efforts to make clear and perfect sense of it".
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,397
#5
"The world is still a weird place, despite my efforts to make clear and perfect sense of it".
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#6
Courtesy of the Times.
Chris Grayling shelved plans to introduce laws regulating drone use in Britain despite being warned on multiple occasions about the risk they posed to airports, The Times has learnt. Gatwick was forced last night to shut for the third time in three days after another drone sighting, causing further misery for thousands of passengers. It reopened after about 90 minutes. A man and woman were later arrested by police. The army and police had appeared powerless to stop drone operators despite deploying a counter-drone system that they said was capable of jamming the devices.
This year the Department for Transport quietly ditched plans for a draft bill aimed at controlling drones and developing technology to prevent them from being used near airports. The legislation, which had been due for publication in the spring, was dropped amid pressures on the department, with civil servants diverted to work on Brexit.
This happened despite warnings about the dangers that drones posed to airports. In July last year Gatwick was closed twice after a device was flown within the airport perimeter. This year a drone came within 20ft of an aircraft carrying up to 180 passengers. Officials said last night that the draft legislation would not be published until next year. The government has not responded to a consultation on the plans that closed in September.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#7
Military expertise got it sorted this time.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#8
two people where arrested last and now being interigated by the police.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#9
Both old enough to know exactly what havoc they were causing.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-46657505
An expert on tv suggested in a strange way they might have done people a favour by highlighting how vulnerable some airports worldwide might be.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,397
#10
Here's an article on who the suspects are from the Mail. At time of publication I can only presume they were awaiting confirmation on how much their house is worth - normally a Mail pre-requisite,
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6522089/Two-people-arrested-criminal-use-drones-Gatwick-Airport.html"The world is still a weird place, despite my efforts to make clear and perfect sense of it".
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Bob Whysman- Registered: 23 Aug 2013
- Posts: 1,948
#11
Do nothing and nothing happens.
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,397
#12
"The world is still a weird place, despite my efforts to make clear and perfect sense of it".
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#13
So going by those articles the police have plenty of guesses but are really no wiser than they were on day one as to the culprits. All they have done is publicise a wrongful arrest and F up that couple's lives.
Bob Whysman likes this
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Bob Whysman- Registered: 23 Aug 2013
- Posts: 1,948
#14
Brexit, now the phantom drone mystery...........whatever’s next?
Do nothing and nothing happens.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#15
Courtesy of the Times - The Keystone cops will be sued over this.
Sussex police were accused of running an “appalling” investigation into the drone disruption at Gatwick after they held an innocent couple for 36 hours despite them having a solid alibi. Paul Gait, 47, a window fitter, and his wife Elaine Kirk, 54, were arrested on Friday night on suspicion of flying drones over the airport after a tip-off from the public, and released yesterday with no further action. John Allard, Mr Gait’s boss, criticised police for failing to return his phone calls when he tried to tell them about his employee’s alibi for the three days last week when drones were reported. Mr Allard, 68, who runs Allard Double Glazing in Crowborough, where Mr Gait has worked for 17 years, said he tried to contact police after the couple were arrested on Friday night but he was unable to get through to anybody.
He said: “Obviously the police could have handled it better just by asking the who, when and where. The police have handled this absolutely appallingly, they really have. “All it would have taken was for them to call me and contact me as his employer and I could have confirmed that all day Wednesday and half the day Thursday, he was part of a three-man team installing fascia, soffit and guttering at a client’s home in Groombridge, Kent. On Friday he spent most of the day running my daughter about because she damaged one of her toes and he was ferrying her to the doctors. “I discovered on Friday evening that he had been arrested. I got on to the police yesterday [Saturday] evening, but I couldn’t get through to anybody, there was just somebody who said, ‘I’ll take notes and pass that message on.’ But they never did get back to me, there was no return contact.”
Mr Allard said that police had left Mr Gait’s house in disarray despite a “clear lack of evidence”. He said that Mr Gait, an ex-soldier and model aircraft enthusiast, did not even own a drone as he had sold his in the summer. It was only a “silly little one [that] anyone could have bought in Hamleys”.
“Sussex police have really dropped the ball on this. I have always supported the police and I like to think I always would but in this case I think they have really got it wrong.”
Mr Gait and Ms Kirk made no comment yesterday morning as they returned to their home in Crawley, five miles from the airport. Giving a statement on their behalf, Mr Allard’s daughter Gemma said: “Paul Gait and Elaine Kirk have been released without charge and no further inquiries are pending. They have been in custody for over 36 hours and we would ask that their privacy, and their family and friends’, is respected.” Family, friends and colleagues had expressed shock at the couple’s arrest.
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
#16
What a Cock up
Surely the police can do better than this?
It just shows as a society we are going backwards
Now listening to the couple (tearful lol)
They will fight to get compensation
Police will settle out of court as its cheaper
It's our taxpayers money there giving away
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Bob Whysman- Registered: 23 Aug 2013
- Posts: 1,948
#17
It just got better for the migrants........the French look like getting the means of sending them in by air very soon!
https://apple.news/APkLV76FUQ3-nCeTl1YPvKgDo nothing and nothing happens.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
#18
Drones in the right hand are a good thing
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Paul M- Registered: 1 Feb 2016
- Posts: 393
#19
Blatent discrimation against left handed people
Jan Higgins likes thisDo nothing and nothing happens.
