Departures at Heathrow were temporarily stopped after a drone was reported to have been sighted.
Departures at Heathrow Airport have been stopped after a drone was sighted. Photo: 123rf.com
Flights from the west London airport resumed about an hour after police said a drone had been seen.
A Heathrow spokesperson said they were working with police to "prevent any threat to operational safety".
She said: "As a precautionary measure, we have stopped departures while we investigate. We apologise to passengers for any inconvenience this may cause."
It comes after last month's disruption at Gatwick Airport after drones were reported.
The Metropolitan Police said they received reports of a drone sighting near Heathrow at about 17:05 GMT (6.05am NZDT).
"As a precautionary measure, Heathrow Airport has stopped departures and officers based at Heathrow are currently investigating the reports with colleagues from Heathrow Airport," they said.
Earlier, Flight tracking website Flightradar24.com showed many aircraft circling around the west London airport.
Flight tracking website Flightradar24.com showed many aircraft circling around the west London airport. Photo: Flightradar24
The British government yesterday expanded drone-free exclusion zones around British airports from their previous 1km limit, to about 5km.
Heathrow and Gatwick recently also spent millions of pounds on military-grade anti-drone equipment.
Passengers who were stuck at Heathrow expressed their frustration at having to wait to depart while the airport responded to the sighting.
My luck, drone sighting and Now my flight is at standstill just before departure ! #Heathrow pic.twitter.com/yt3EQ6Xv5v
— Nadim Baig (@nadimbaig) January 8, 2019
ITV reporter Sarah Rodgers was among those currently grounded at Heathrow.
Grounded at #Heathrow whilst waiting to fly home to Manchester, first officer says flights suspended whilst police investigate possible #drone activity...
— Sarah Rogers (@sarahrogersITV) January 8, 2019
More to come.
- BBC
