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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder about a few things with the LGW drone attack

868 replies

badlydrawnperson · 20/12/2018 11:32

Before I get flamed (and not that anyone will resist flaming if they want to anyway). I know-

-It's not that easy
-Safety First
-People are doing their best

But I can't help wondering and idly speculating about why -

We apparently don't have any counter measures for this.
It can go on so long
We aren't seeing any News footage of the drone(s)

I am 100% NOT a conspiracy theorist but I am very curious about exactly what is going on.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
11
Wordthe · 20/12/2018 23:27

It was on the news Brizzle

I'm trying to find amateur footage and there doesnt seem to be any apart from that one up thread

mumsastudent · 20/12/2018 23:31

OK aircraft fly at several hundred miles per hour if the drones are near the fence are they near the "approach" where the aircraft are most vulnerable - they may to low to stop the landing or to fast to stop taking off. small object especially small hard one with sharp edges could either be sucked into engine or break windscreen or damage another vital part of the aircraft if the aircraft crashes near Gatwick - its densely populated. Now as someone has said these are - probably military grade which means more powerful, faster, larger, with bigger batteries (???) there are a series of them which could be controlled at distance. They could be low down or move swiftly to great heights. Sadly there is also a chance of copy cats. shooting down? ricochets could go in any direction, or missed ones ditto & if so they could hit the fuel containers aircraft (which also contain fuel) & people - they would not be easy to hit because they are small fast & manoeuvrable, & there is more than one. As for blocking their frequency - again not so easy - first you have to establish what one they are using & if they are not sticking to the law … also this could damage affect other transmissions & controls & communication in the area maybe .. (expert please clarify this!)

brizzledrizzle · 20/12/2018 23:32

@mycatsplotdeath This was on Twitter from London 999 Feed
‏

@999London
43m43 minutes ago
More
#HeathrowAirport
Met Police officers based at #Heathrow have boarded an @AerLingus flight #EI0177 to #Dublin and have instructed a male passenger to come off the aircraft.

At this stage it remains unclear as to why he was removed from the fight.

Video: @EmmaEgan1

mycatplotsdeath · 20/12/2018 23:33

The plot thickens

JamesBondFilm · 20/12/2018 23:34

Curious.

canigetaliein · 20/12/2018 23:35

surely it counts as terrorism as I assume they think the drone is a danger to the planes?

mumsastudent · 20/12/2018 23:35

if they are definitely stating its not terrorist is it either: environmentalist or blackmail (&someone's received message)??

Wordthe · 20/12/2018 23:37

probably military grade which means more powerful, faster, larger, with bigger batteries
I heard 20kg and can fly up to 70mph

FunshineCareBear · 20/12/2018 23:40

I wonder why Gatwick over Heathrow

brizzledrizzle · 20/12/2018 23:42

Maybe they knew Heathrow had anti-drone technology and Gatwick didn't?

Terfing · 20/12/2018 23:42

I think the drones will stop soon. It will be easier for those doing it to dismantle everything at night. There's much more chance of them being found during the day.

beenhereforeveryouknow · 20/12/2018 23:44

It's just some idiot who did it and thought it was funny and kept on going and got caught up in it!

Puzzledandpissedoff · 20/12/2018 23:45

Sadly there is also a chance of copy cats

As I said upthread, that's exactly what's worrying me. The chaos has shown they have no way to deal with these things quickly, and I can just imagine idiots thinking they could have a bit of "fun" too

Also don't forget the sheer number of the blasted things which folk will probably get for Christmas ...

Wordthe · 20/12/2018 23:47

surely its just a case of installing the relevant anti drone tech?

mumsastudent · 20/12/2018 23:48

thanks amazon & others

Wordthe · 20/12/2018 23:49

seems to be raining in that area, will that make a difference?

SlowNorris · 20/12/2018 23:51

Planes moving on the ground are surely just parking up/getting closer to the airport?

Mymycherrypie · 20/12/2018 23:54

I don’t think it is an idiot. From what I’ve read (and admittedly I thought drones were children’s toys before tonight) it’s a highly targeted and well funded operation.

Eco warrior - possibly. Although like PP’s have said, it’s not been a successful protest if it is as there has been as much cost to the environment due to diversions.

I’m betting on some kind of spurned group of people, playing with their custom build mini helicopter toys and who probably think this is hilarious. They are just trolling but with money and tech.

powershowerforanhour · 21/12/2018 00:02

Where's George Digweed when you need him? ☺

Wordthe · 21/12/2018 00:03

there have been 'a number of sightings'
but still no footage....?

ErrolTheDragon · 21/12/2018 00:03

Maybe they're something like 'grey hat hackers' - exposing a vulnerability but not intending causing damage (apart, obviously, from the massive disruption).

pantyclaws · 21/12/2018 00:12

Conspiracy theory is that the govt want to crack down on drones with new tough legislation so it's an inside job set to get big headlines during an otherwise quiet news time (Brexit aside, but the govt is prob v happy for something else to be headline news). Thus getting public and parliamentary support for new regs, fast.

ImmortalityMyDarlings · 21/12/2018 00:13

US transport command just flew over Gatwick

To wonder about a few things with the LGW drone attack
Myshinynewname · 21/12/2018 00:18

What’s that immortality?

Myshinynewname · 21/12/2018 00:19

Also is it usual for Heathrow to be so quiet at night? I’ve never looked on flight radar at midnight but there’s loads of flights around London city but nothing at Heathrow.