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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:
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11
nickiredcar · 20/12/2018 13:12

What have the EU done?

I don't see how you can control it, for people that want to do harm.

nickiredcar · 20/12/2018 13:13

Yeah Gatwick isn't built up at all. Lots of big houses with pools then nothing but feilds.

greyedging · 20/12/2018 13:14

I reckon environmentalists (just cos it's not extinction rebellion, doesn't mean it's not someone else), or novel attack from Islamists or terrorist of some type. If the latter got to admire the out of the box thinking on this one..

Or maybe Putin a having a laugh.

UrsulaPandress · 20/12/2018 13:14

I've always thought drones were a stupid idea and capable of causing all sorts of problems in the hands of those with ill intent or the merely thick.

Ta1kinpeace · 20/12/2018 13:14

The other EU countries have moved towards licencing for sales
UNLIKE the UK
so its an offence to sell one without recording the buyer
and its an offence to own one without a licence and insurance

the UK was stupid not to do the same
I suspect legislation will be brought in soon to make lots of Christmas presents illegal Xmas Grin

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 20/12/2018 13:15

Personally, I think it's someone from the Heathrow third runway campaign...

Why would they do it at Gatwick then? As far as I know Heathrow 3 won't be built there.

nickiredcar · 20/12/2018 13:20

Yeah they should have lisenced them. I don't think it would have changed this and even making them illegal won't change this either.

They aren't following the law as to high they should fly.

ChesterGreySideboard · 20/12/2018 13:20

I guess there could be more than one person. A group of people. One sends a drone up and then when it needs to recharge they send another one up from somewhere else.

Stopping flights like this is hugely disruptive and costs a fortune. The airport authorities won’t have done it without a bloody good reason.

nodramaforthellama · 20/12/2018 13:21

@Ta1kinpeace it really isn't, there is some nice countryside round here, but it is around a 10 minute run from the town over to the airstrip. Plus lots of industrial estates/ towns and villages within a few miles. It's very quiet here today not seeing the planes taking off and landing.

ciderhouserules · 20/12/2018 13:23

I've just been over to the airport - I live very close (and yes, there is a lot of green countryside, but also the M23, railway links, A roads galore) It's a nice walk, we walk to where we can sit under the approach and watch the planes come in above us. Today there was nothing in the air, at all.
Inside the airport were queues a mile long (for Information, the loos, food, cafes) and people everywhere. To do this when people are looking to get away, perhaps back to friends or family for xmas (like my friend, who can't get home now Sad) is terrible.

Bastard drones. Ban the fucking things.

ChesterGreySideboard · 20/12/2018 13:24

Not a built up area at all. Lots of fields and woodland to hide in.
Not to mention that they could be booked into a near by air b&b.

To wonder about a few things with the LGW drone attack
nickiredcar · 20/12/2018 13:26

It's not bastard drones its people not the technology and the lack of planning by the authorities to keep up to date with threats imo.

Ta1kinpeace · 20/12/2018 13:28

Guns do not kill people, people kill people

Yes but if there are no guns available then people cannot shoot each other

time to MASSIVELY restrict drone sales in the UK

nickiredcar · 20/12/2018 13:33

I don't think restristricting the sales will make a jot of difference for things like this though. That's a tiny part of action that needs to be taken.

Airport security pisses me off no end, the amount of times I've had something that causes issues like a wooden bamboo fork when you can get stake knifes once past security Hmm

Modern drones wouldn't take off anywhere near an airport.

Wonder how low DJI shares will go once trading opens

HowlsMovingBungalow · 20/12/2018 13:34

Armed police nr runway now.

bibbidybobbidyboo · 20/12/2018 13:34

@ChardonnaysPrettySister

Haha I was joking - I meant the people who want to put the new runway at Heathrow and not at Gatwick. I wasn't talking about environmentalists Wink

BirdieInTheHand · 20/12/2018 13:41

A drone was used to blow up a vehicle at Abu Dhabi airport in July this year in an organised attack by Yemeni rebels.

I'd be astonished if similar attacks hadn't been thwarted elsewhere in the world.

Given the fact this incident is still ongoing I think it's naive to assume it's someone having a laugh...

Ta1kinpeace · 20/12/2018 13:44

@Birdieinthehand
A drone was used to blow up a vehicle at Abu Dhabi airport in July this year in an organised attack by Yemeni rebels.
No it was not
www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-emirates-attack/uae-denies-report-of-houthi-drone-attack-on-abu-dhabi-airport-idUSKBN1KG23W
Please do not spread fake news

Whatdoesitmatteranyway · 20/12/2018 13:50

I'm cursed - supposed to be going to the Carribean from GRotwick on Sunday.

In 2001 I was grounded by 9/11 trying to get home.

In 2010 The volcano meant I had a very very long drive across Europe to get a flight to China

In 2010 the snow storms at Christmas meant I got to the states too late for Christmas

And now this........

QforCucumber · 20/12/2018 13:55

@nicoala1 Antalya airport in Turkey had shootings a few years back at the check in area, now when you arrive from the car park you are scanned through security desks, the same as those after check in. You then check in as normal and then another set of security desks. Feels over the top but required after the awful happenings, just a shame they only put in place AFTERWARDS

BirdieInTheHand · 20/12/2018 13:57

@Ta1kinpeace absolutely not fake news. I know people working in the airport that day and saw photos of the damaged truck.

ADAC originally tweeted about the incident and reported it to locally based journalists (one of whom I know well and attended a briefing). There was then total media silence for a day or two followed by a denial.

Abu Dhabi pilot/airport community is a small one. Everyone knows it happened and was covered up.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 20/12/2018 13:58

Haha I was joking - I meant the people who want to put the new runway at Heathrow and not at Gatwick. I wasn't talking about environmentalists wink

Ah, sorry!

Ta1kinpeace · 20/12/2018 13:59

Birdie
Abu Dhabi pilot/airport community is a small one. Everyone knows it happened and was covered up.
Why ?

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 20/12/2018 14:00

Just let us know next time you have travel plans, and where to, Whatdoesitmatteranyway, as a Public Service Announcement.

Justaboy · 20/12/2018 14:01

I've got a gut feeling that more is going on there than meets the eye. Yes drones ca,n even a small one, inflict a lot of damage on a jet aircraft ever heard of bird strike that can sod up an engine mightly?.

But perhaps its time they took anti drone more serioulsy jam the radio signals they use and yes the controlers of them can be tracked very quickly if neednbe and that dosent cost that much to do if so I wonder why thery arent doing it? A lot of money has been lost by airlines there let alone the airport.

All rather odd;!