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Army Called in Amid UK Drone Chaos (Updated)

posted by takyon on Friday December 21 2018, @06:37AM   Printer-friendly
from the buckshot-or-HK dept.

An Anonymous Coward writes:

BBC:

The Army has deployed "specialist equipment" to Gatwick Airport as the travel chaos caused by drone activity shows no sign of abating. Tens of thousands of passengers on several airlines have been disrupted by drones flying over the airport. In a tweet, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson had confirmed the military deployment.

He said: "The armed forces have a range of unique capabilities and this isn't something we would usually deploy but we are there to assist and do everything we can so that they are in a position to open the airport at the earliest opportunity."

Gatwick's runway has been shut since Wednesday night because devices have been repeatedly flown over the airfield.

Free insightful mods for the most creative solution.

Updates:

Shooting down a drone which has caused chaos at Gatwick Airport is a "tactical option" being considered by police. The measure had previously been ruled out by Sussex Police, which cited concerns over "stray bullets". But with the airport expected to remain closed on Friday, Det Ch Supt Jason Tingley said the force would "do what we can to take that drone out of the sky".

Gatwick runway reopens after disruption

A Gatwick spokesperson said: "Gatwick's runway is currently available and a limited number of aircraft are scheduled for departure and arrival. Gatwick continues to advise passengers to check the status of their flight with their airline before travelling to the airport as departures and arrivals will be subject to delays and cancellations."

Related: 3,500 Troops on Standby to Prepare for a "No-Deal Brexit"

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  • (Score: 0, Disagree) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 21 2018, @08:39AM (4 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 21 2018, @08:39AM (#777135)

    Wasn't there some BS about DJI updating their airport no-fly fencing software in recent months? A water cannon or net cannon should easily take down the drone. Then we trace the serial number (if it hasn't been filed off). The _manufacturer_ is then permanently banned worldwide from _any_ further sales. As for the idiots behind this - strip all their family assets to distribute as compensation to all affected (not lawyers, airport, govt, but the affected passengers).

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  • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Friday December 21 2018, @11:36AM (1 child)

    by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Friday December 21 2018, @11:36AM (#777166) Journal

    Wasn't there some BS about DJI updating their airport no-fly fencing software in recent months?...The _manufacturer_ is then permanently banned worldwide from _any_ further sales.

    And you reckon drone is so hard to build DIY from parts? Even a bicopter (which is inherently quite unstable and hard to manoeuvre) is doable [youtube.com]

    --
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford

    • (Score: 2) by choose another one on Friday December 21 2018, @03:04PM

      by choose another one (515) Subscriber Badge on Friday December 21 2018, @03:04PM (#777211)

      > And you reckon drone is so hard to build DIY from parts? Even a bicopter (which is inherently quite unstable and hard to manoeuvre) is doable [youtube.com]

      Or just modify a standard issue one.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 21 2018, @12:43PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 21 2018, @12:43PM (#777172)

    Yeah, bans, they work so good.

  • (Score: 1) by khallow on Friday December 21 2018, @01:44PM

    by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Friday December 21 2018, @01:44PM (#777188) Journal

    The _manufacturer_ is then permanently banned worldwide from _any_ further sales.

    As long as we get to ban the government that passes such regulation from operating in the Milky Way, I'm on board with it.