To be scared of flying back to Gatwick on Saturday?

[Darkautumn]

DH is a nervous flyer at the best of times. I'm not so bad but I suffer with anxiety (on meds).

We're currently abroad, supposed to fly back today but clearly not now
Easyjet have swapped our flights to this Saturday, which is an inconvenience but we're trying to look on the bright side, at least we've got an extra 2 days in this gorgeous city!

DH is trying not to let it worry him but I'm just a bit scared..I don't know the first thing about drones and it worries me that this is something that they've grounded all the planes for...and it seems to be a prolonged incident in a deliberate attempt to disrupt/attack?

Can someone calm my nerves a bit?

They will hopefully catch the idiot(s) by then or they will decide they've had their fun and stop.

They are doing risk management, but the chances of hitting a drone are small, the chances of it doing severe damage is even smaller. The chances of you being on the one flight that hits a drone is tiny.

You'll be safer landing than taking off as the plane will be on its descent and won't have a full load of fuel.

You've more chance being hit crossing the road in whatever city you are in.

Does that help at all?

Don’t worry, Gatwick will be extra vigilant after this incident is sorted. My dh and ds are due to fly to Gatwick tomorrow, I’m not expecting them until Saturday or Sunday...extreme way to get out of Christmas prep! 😆

Having closed the airport for nearly 24 hours (huge operation, huge cost, huge inconvenience) do you honestly think they would let flights come in if there was any danger?

The safest time to fly is always just after something untoward has happened.

If they do think its unsafe then they'll divert you to another airport. As much as its a nusiance belive me aircarf safetey is to a nth degree safe . That airline we lurve to hate RA and the one thats easier to get on with not one of them has had a ffatility in many years of operation and the number of aircraft movements over the UK is staggering every day.

Have alook at flightradar24.com and see whats going on:)

Enjoy.

OP don't worry - I know it is hard, though.

They are taking extreme safety precautions and no planes will be moving on that runway until the drones are gone AND safely in the hands of the police (aka people in custody etc)

Thank you all I will read these comments to DH, I feel better already

I'm now thinking we might not even get home on Saturday

A 47 Y/O man and a 54 Y/O woman have been arrested. My money is on it being an environmental protest but YMMV!,

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-46657505

Will have to have a read. Home safe!