British police Saturday said they have detained two suspects following drone interference at Gatwick airport that led to partial shutdowns of the U.K.s second-largest airport.
Sussex police said the arrests, made just after 10 p.m. Friday, form part of an “ongoing investigations into the criminal use of drones which has severely disrupted flights in and out of Gatwick Airport.”
A later announcement said a 47-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman from the local area remained in custody.
Drone sightings Wednesday night saw severe disruption to the airports activities as flights were suspended for security reasons. Flights resumed Friday morning but were suspended again that afternoon, restarting around 7 p.m. Friday, police said.
The Times Saturday reported that U.K. Transport Secretary Chris Grayling this year ditched plans for a draft bill to regulate drone use and develop technology to prevent them from being used near airports.
The outlet reported the legislation “had been due for publication in the spring, [but] was dropped amid pressures on the department, with civil servants diverted to work on Brexit.”
The British Airline Pilots Association said Friday it “remains extremely concerned at the risk of a drone collision,” and had issued advice to pilots on how to respond to a drone sighting.
Gatwick airport said Saturday: “Our runway is open. Passengers are advised to check with their airline before travelling to the airport.”
This article has been updated.
