A MOTORIST says he saw the Gatwick drone wolf pilot frantically packing two craft into a rucksack before riding off on a bicycle.
Paul Motts, 52, spotted the man “in his 30s and in hi-vis clothing” in a country lane four miles from the runway.
His revelation came as the airport reopened yesterday morning, after 33 hours and 760 cancelled flights.
Cops last night arrested two people for “illegal operation of drones” in late night raids.
A new sighting triggered more chaos last night as passengers tried to get away for Christmas.
And RAF experts brought in a £2.6million “drone killer” to down the devices.
£10,000 reward
To catch Xmas drone grinch
THE Sun today offers a £10,000 reward for anyone who helps get the Gatwick drone wolf arrested and convicted.
Britain’s second busiest airport was paralysed for 36 hours causing Christmas mayhem for 200,000 passengers.
The drone was flown over the runway up to 50 times, leading to 760 flights being grounded or diverted. Experts say it could bring down a jet.
Anyone with information should call Sussex Police on 101 quoting Operation Trebor. Or they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Christmas chaos at Gatwick, what we know so far…
- Gatwick was thrown into more chaos today as ANOTHER drone was spotted at 5pm near the runway
- Cops arrest two people for “criminal use of drones”
- Flights were suspended but the Army was able to thwart the flying menace and the airport reopened 80 minutes later
- Army has deployed ‘drone killer’ tech used in fight against ISIS jihadis
- Gatwick “partially re-opened” this morning with “limited number of planes”
- But travel chaos set to continue with 155 flights cancelled and others under threat
- ‘Eco warriors’ suspected to be behind attack as possible protest to airport expansion
- Thousands set for refunds and compensation after flights cancelled or delayed
Paul told The Sun: “I was delivering a parcel and drove past a suspicious man in fluorescent cycling gear crouching over a large drone which was all lit up.
“It was a big thing with lights on its arms and roughly 4ft across.
“He had a smaller drone, about 2ft across, next to him.
“He was leaning over and doing something to it. He was totally focused and did not look up when I drove past.
“It looked like he was packing the drones away. Two minutes later we turned around and came across him cycling away.
“I expect he wanted to disassemble the drone as quickly as possible and get away as fast as he could.
“It was pretty weird considering what had happened at the airport during the day.”
Paul, a manager at EDF Energy, and wife Shelagh had been driving to a Tory dinner when they saw the suspect at 6.30pm on Thursday.
At 10pm that night a drone was again seen hovering over the runway.
Flights, initially halted at 9pm on Wednesday, resumed yesterday.
Another drone sighting at 5.20pm last night briefly closed the airport. Planes were taking off again by 6.30pm.
Gatwick confirmed there have been at least 50 drone flights over the runway since Wednesday.
£10,000 reward
To catch Xmas drone grinch
THE Sun today offers a £10,000 reward for anyone who helps get the Gatwick drone wolf arrested and convicted.
Britain’s second busiest airport was paralysed for 36 hours causing Christmas mayhem for 200,000 passengers.
The drone was flown over the runway up to 50 times, leading to 760 flights being grounded or diverted. Experts say it could bring down a jet.
Anyone with information should call Sussex Police on 101 quoting Operation Trebor. Or they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
More than 830 flights were scheduled yesterday but the airport was struggling to deal with the two-day backlog.
RAF experts brought in a “Drone Dome” system which uses a radio frequency jammer to crash drones.
The Israeli-made devices feature four radars covering a six-mile radius.
They were used in the fight against IS in Mosul last year. The Army has bought six for £15.8million.
The Sun Says: Show no mercy
THE drones fiasco at our second busiest airport is a global embarrassment, aside from the misery it has heaped on families.
It is scandalous Gatwick is so vulnerable. But the best weapon against a repeat, aside from upgrading our technology, is to show no mercy for those responsible if and when they’re caught.
They may have a “cause”. Or not. Who cares? The five-year jail term for endangering an aircraft must be applied, with no excuses.
But even that looks derisory against the potential threat to life, the mayhem, ruined holidays and economic harm.
The law must be changed to double it.
Sussex Assistant Chief Constable Steve Barry said the force had “every option available” as it tried to bring down “more than one drone”.
Runway marksmen had yet to get an opportunity to open fire. Mr Barry also said cops had identified “persons of interest”, including the mystery cyclist, as at least 100 police officers hunt the pilot.
Lines of inquiry include malicious disruption by environmental activists, and “high-end criminal behaviour”.
Mr Barry admitted it was difficult to catch the drone wolf, but any device that was grounded would hold vital information that could link it to the culprit.
He added: “We are in a much better position today.
“We are quite positive in terms of the way that we are progressing the investigation.”
Garron Akushie-Stevens, 26, had been due to fly to his uncle’s Christmas Eve wedding in Ghana but now faces paying up to £3,000 for a ticket, double the original price.
He said carrier TAP Air Portugal did not tell him and three pals their flight was cancelled until they arrived at Gatwick on Friday morning.
Silent flight
By Adam Bennett
ANTI-noise campaigners have been dodging the flak after they called the drone crisis an “early Christmas present”.
Community Against Gatwick Noise Emissions was dismissed as “ten old duffers” and urged to shut up or move away.
The group was even accused of being behind the disruption after it said the cancellations had given residents a glimpse of the tranquillity the area around the West Sussex airport might enjoy.
CAGNE chairwoman Sally Pavey defended her group’s statement after it was derided online.
She said: “It’s been a bit of respite for us but that doesn’t mean we condone this behaviour.
“We sympathise with those who have had their plans disrupted.”
The group said they were handed a selection pack of chocolate bars by staff, which “added insult to injury”. Production assistant Mr Akushie-Stevens said: “I have to see my family members, my grandma who is quite ill.
“They have thrown us to the wolves. It’s unacceptable, deplorable.”
Meanwhile Sir Bob Russell, a former Defence Select Committee member, said he warned about the threat of drones in 2015 but was ignored by then Home Secretary Theresa May.
He added: “The ongoing incident at Gatwick has sadly proved me right.
MOST READ IN NEWS
“A drone in the wrong hands could be just as lethal as a gun.
“They are unregulated and can easily be bought by anyone online for under £30. Even the cheapest has a range of 150 metres and can fly for half an hour.
“Drone users should be regulated and registered in the same way as firearms certificates.”
£10,000 reward
To catch Xmas drone grinch
THE Sun today offers a £10,000 reward for anyone who helps get the Gatwick drone wolf arrested and convicted.
Britain’s second busiest airport was paralysed for 36 hours causing Christmas mayhem for 200,000 passengers.
The drone was flown over the runway up to 50 times, leading to 760 flights being grounded or diverted. Experts say it could bring down a jet.
Anyone with information should call Sussex Police on 101 quoting Operation Trebor. Or they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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