All flights out of the UK’s busiest airport, London’s Heathrow, were briefly suspended after a reported drone sighting, just weeks after a similar report at Gatwick grounded about 1,000 flights.
A spokesperson for Heathrow said: “We are currently responding to a drone sighting at Heathrow and are working closely with the Met police to prevent any threat to operational safety.
“As a precautionary measure, we have stopped departures while we investigate. We apologise to passengers for any inconvenience this may cause.”
We are responding to a drone sighting at Heathrow and are working closely with the Met Police to prevent any threat to operational safety. As a precautionary measure, we have stopped departures while we investigate. We apologise to passengers for any inconvenience this may cause.
— Heathrow Airport (@HeathrowAirport) January 8, 2019
Passengers, who were grounded reported a police helicopter joined in the hunt for the drone
On a plane waiting to take off at Heathrow and we are grounded as there is a “drone” flying over the airport. Police helicopter over the runway. Hope it is just a drone. pic.twitter.com/3sAww112df
— Simon (@BondySi) January 8, 2019
Transport Minister Chris Grayling immediately issued a statement saying “Military are preparing to deploy anti-drone equipment at Heathrow should it prove necessary” after the government were lambasted for a delayed response dealing with the Gatwick Airport drone sighting.
