Whoever flew the drones that closed Gatwick during the busiest week of the winter “had detailed knowledge of the airport”, according to Sussex Police.
But after nine months of investigation, police responsible for the airport say they may never find the culprit.
Between 18 and 20 December, two “unmanned aerial vehicles” closed the world’s busiest runway for 33 hours – cancelling 1,000 flights and disrupting the travel plans of 150,000 travellers.
The closure of Gatwick airport cost airlines around £50m in lost revenue and passenger care costs.
The policing operation and subsequent investigation have cost £800,000.
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Police clash with anti-government protesters at the airport in Hong Kong
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Riot police used pepper spray in an attempt to disperse the anti-extradition bill protesters
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Medics attempt to remove an injured man who anti-government protesters said was an undercover policeman
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The mass demonstration continued into a second day after a woman was shot in the eye during a previous protest
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The police clashed with several protesters
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Leaving one bleeding on the floor
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Protesters detained the man, they claimed was a police officer, and threw water on him
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He required medical assistance, but they struggled to remove him from the airport
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Riot police use pepper spray
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A tourist gives her luggage to security guards as she tries to enter the departures gate during another demonstration by pro-democracy protesters at Hong Kong’s international airport.
AFP/Getty
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Protesters blocked passengers at departure halls of Hong Kong airport on August 13, a day after a sit-in forced authorities to cancel all flights to and from the major international hub.
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Travellers react as they manage to walk through the protesters to the departure gates
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Rallies against a controversial extradition bill have continued across Hong Kong, since 9 June. It has plunged the city into crisis after several violent clashes occurred during the demonstrations.
AP
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Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam apologised for introducing the bill and declared it “dead”, however protesters have continued to draw large crowds with demands for Lam’s resignation and completely withdraw the bill.
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Anti-government protesters try to prevent a passenger from breaching a barricade in front of departure gates.
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Protesters use luggage trolleys to block the walkway to the departure gates
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A woman holds a flower and posters showing people injured by police
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A traveller shouts while holding her luggage
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Protesters show posters to travellers at the arrival hall
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Getty
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Police clash with anti-government protesters at the airport in Hong Kong
REUTERS
2/33
Riot police used pepper spray in an attempt to disperse the anti-extradition bill protesters
Reuters
3/33
Medics attempt to remove an injured man who anti-government protesters said was an undercover policeman
Reuters
4/33
The mass demonstration continued into a second day after a woman was shot in the eye during a previous protest
Reuters
5/33
The police clashed with several protesters
Reuters
6/33
Leaving one bleeding on the floor
Reuters
7/33
Protesters detained the man, they claimed was a police officer, and threw water on him
AP
8/33
Reuters
9/33
He required medical assistance, but they struggled to remove him from the airport
AP
10/33
Reuters
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Reuters
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Reuters
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Reuters
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Riot police use pepper spray
Reuters
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A tourist gives her luggage to security guards as she tries to enter the departures gate during another demonstration by pro-democracy protesters at Hong Kong’s international airport.
AFP/Getty
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Protesters blocked passengers at departure halls of Hong Kong airport on August 13, a day after a sit-in forced authorities to cancel all flights to and from the major international hub.
Getty
17/33
Travellers react as they manage to walk through the protesters to the departure gates
AP
18/33
Rallies against a controversial extradition bill have continued across Hong Kong, since 9 June. It has plunged the city into crisis after several violent clashes occurred during the demonstrations.
AP
19/33
Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam apologised for introducing the bill and declared it “dead”, however protesters have continued to draw large crowds with demands for Lam’s resignation and completely withdraw the bill.
AP
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Anti-government protesters try to prevent a passenger from breaching a barricade in front of departure gates.
Reuters
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Protesters use luggage trolleys to block the walkway to the departure gates
AP
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Getty
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AFP/Getty
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AFP
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A woman holds a flower and posters showing people injured by police
AP
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EPA
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A traveller shouts while holding her luggage
AFP/Getty
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Reuters
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Protesters show posters to travellers at the arrival hall
AP
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Getty
Assistant chief constable Dave Miller, head of operations command, said: “This was a serious and deliberate criminal act designed to endanger airport operations and the safety of the travelling public.”
More than 100 “credible witnesses” were interviewed, who were “used to working in a complex airport environment”. They included a pilot, airport workers and airport police.
Their statements indicate the drones were flown in 12 separate bursts across the three days. The activity ranged from seven to 45 minutes. “On six of these occasions, witnesses clearly saw two drones operating simultaneously,” said Sussex Police.
The report says there was no evidence to indicate the activity was related to terrorism, nor was it state-sponsored.
Earlier this month, a climate-change group called Heathrow Pause attempted to shut down Heathrow airport by flying drones, but in the Gatwick incident, no campaigning group is thought to be responsible.
In April, Chris Woodroofe, chief operating officer at Gatwick, told BBC’s Panorama: “It was clear that the drone operators had a link into what was going on at the airport.”
Sussex Police say they have identified, researched and ruled out 96 “people of interest”.
A couple from Crawley were wrongly arrested in December for the drone attack. Paul Gait and Elaine Kirk were released without charge.
Mr Miller said: “With support from national experts, we have carried out an exhaustive criminal investigation but, without new information coming to light, there are no further realistic lines of enquiry at this time.
“Measures now available have strengthened our capability to respond to and investigate a similar incident in the future.”
