Flights briefly stopped at Heathrow Airport over drone sighting

Only a month ago nearby Gatwick airport was closed for the same reasons

A passenger aircraft operated by British Airways, a unit of International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (IAG), taxis past other standing British Airways aircraft at Terminal 5 at London Heathrow Airport in London, U.K., on Monday, Dec. 24, 2018. British Airways-owner International Consolidated Airlines Group SA and budget carriers EasyJet Plc and Ryanair Holdings Plc all have significant revenue exposure to the U.K., according to analysts at Bernstein. Photographer: Jason Alden/Bloomberg
Powered by automated translation

Departures from London’s Heathrow airport were suspended for an hour on Tuesday after a drone sighting – only weeks after a similar incident at Gatwick sparked days of chaos when operations were stopped.

A police helicopter was sent to give support and departures resumed soon after. Transport secretary Chris Grayling said he had spoken to his colleagues at the Home Office and defence ministry, with the military ready to deploy anti-drone if necessary.  Arrivals appeared to have not been affected.

One Twitter user, Martin Lawrence, wrote that he was waiting to taxi for his flight to Washington DC when the engines were turned after the drone claims.

ITV Granada’s Sarah Rodgers was also grounded with the first officer saying the police were investigating possible drone activity.

_______________

Read more:

_______________

The northern runway has been closed but the second is still open according to Sky News.