Drone sightings have brought chaos for thousands of passengers at Heathrow airport tonight with all flights grounded for an hour as police investigated.
Many travellers are still waiting on the tarmac unable to take off from the airport, which is the UK's largest, serving more than 200,000 people every day.
Planes have finally started to take off again, but it is unclear how many flights will be delayed in the coming hours after departures were halted just after 5pm.
The news comes just weeks after more than 1,000 flights and 140,000 passengers were affected in the run up to Christmas amid drone chaos at Gatwick.
Some passengers stuck inside planes described vehicles out on the tarmac searching for the drone, while others were told they could ask to disembark.
The Metropolitan police confirmed they were investigating reports of a drone sighting over the runway this evening, at the airport's busiest time of day.
Drone sightings have brought chaos for thousands of passengers at Heathrow airport tonight with all flights grounded for an hour
Planes have finally started to take off again, but it is unclear how many flights will be delayed in the coming hours after departures were halted just after 5pm. Pictured: passengers at terminal 5
Gareth Hutchins revealed he was stuck on the plane with his two-year-old daughter
Student Gabriella Linning, who is on grounded flight BA 1338 to Newcastle, told MailOnline the pilot of her plane said passengers should let staff know if they wish to disembark, and that a helicopter was overhead sweeping the area.
Gabriella, 20, also said that her pilot warned there may be 'considerable delays' to the flight, saying: 'It does look like situation is not going to be resolved in the near future.'
She added: 'The pilot told us that air traffic control is having an emergency meeting to decide if the runway is safe to use.'
Experts believe a large drone could take down a passenger jet because it could shred an engine if it was sucked in or destroy its windscreen or windows, causing a sudden drop in cabin pressure.
Earlier in the evening, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said the military were 'preparing to deploy equipment used at Gatwick should it prove necessary'.
The alleged sighting came four days after both Heathrow and Gatwick airports reported they were investing millions of pounds in equipment to prevent future flight disruption.
The government has already discussed giving powers to airports to shoot down drones with net-firing bazookas under new laws.
After flights were resumed, a Heathrow spokesperson said: 'We continue to work with the Met Police on reports of drones at Heathrow.
'We are working with Air Traffic Control and the Met Police, and have resumed departures out of Heathrow after a short suspension.
'We will continue to monitor this and apologise to anyone that were affected.'
Passengers have been tweeting their frustration over the chaos.
Planes continued to land on the south runway, but the north runway was grounded for an hour just after 5pm
Frustrated passengers have been sharing photos from grounded planes after drone sightings halted takeoffs from Heathrow airport for around an hour
The alleged sighting came four days after both Heathrow (pictured) and Gatwick airports reported they were investing millions of pounds in equipment to prevent future flight disruption
Student Gabriella Linning, who is on grounded flight BA 1338 to Newcastle, told MailOnline the pilot of her plane said passengers should let staff know if they wish to disembark. Pictured: Heathrow terminal 5
The travel chaos comes just weeks after passengers were stuck on planes for several hours and were forced to sleep on floors inside Gatwick airport as flights were cancelled between December 19 and 21. Pictured: webcam footage from the airport earlier this evening
Among those stranded on the runway is British actress Wallis Day, who tweeted: 'Whoever's flying the drone over Heathrow... can u not. We gotta get to Krypton but we're being held on the runway.'
Gareth Hutchins added: 'Sitting on the runway at Heathrow. If you think a drone is annoying, wait until you’re stuck on a non-moving plane with my 2 and a half year old for more than an hour. Pray for us.'
David Zuelke wrote: 'Sitting on plane on runway at Heathrow Airport. Engines turned off. Airport is closed. No arrivals, no departures due to Drone activity in the area.'
Others questioned how a drone could shut down a UK airport just weeks after Gatwick flights were halted.
Tim Gluckman asked: 'My wife is stuck on the tarmac at Heathrow on a plane due to fly to Astana. What if anything did police and 'services' learn from Dec. 21-23 which led to 150K passengers massively affected?'
One user said: 'Currently stuck on the runway at Gatwick. Why do the drone people keep doing this?. #heathrow #drones #dronelife.'
Another user wrote: 'Citizens of the UK should be rather worried that the presence of a real or imaginary flying helicopter toy can outwit and bring an entire airport to a standstill.'
A spokeswoman from the Metropolitan Police said they were called at just after 5pm to 'reports of a sighting of a drone in the vicinity of Heathrow Airport'.
'As a precautionary measure, Heathrow Airport has stopped departures and officers based at Heathrow are currently investigating the reports with colleagues from Heathrow Airport,' she added.
The travel chaos comes just weeks after passengers were stuck on planes for several hours and were forced to sleep on floors inside Gatwick airport as flights were cancelled between December 19 and 21.
The cost of the chaos caused by the drones is expected to have run into tens of million pounds.
The cat and mouse game with police started as drones were deliberately flown over officers and the Gatwick control tower while flashing on-board lights before heading for the runway when officials tried to reopen it.
The Army used a high-tech 'drone dome' defence system that features a tracking system and a 'kill-jammer' that cuts a drone's communications and seizes its controls.
Marksmen were seen carrying shotguns at Gatwick - but officers said they could not shoot down the remote-controlled craft for fear of stray bullets.
A similar arsenal of weapons was used by British and US forces to help liberate Mosul in Iraq and neutralise ISIS drones.
Pictured: travellers at Heathrow terminal 5 after the suspected drone sighting
Heathrow airport confirmed on Twitter they were investigating a drone sighting earlier this evening
Among those trapped in the chaos was British actress Wallis Day, who took to Twitter to share her frustration
One user, who was stuck on the tarmac at the airport earlier this evening, asked 'why do the drone people keep doing this?
Tim Gluckman asked 'what if anything did police and 'services' learn from #Gatwickdrones Dec. 21-23?'
Police, the Army and MI5 spies combed the countryside for days in order to find the culprit.
The operator of the drone still remains at large and, despite widespread criticism, Sussex Police have no update on the probe.
Britain's most senior police chief admitted authorities need to 'up their game' in the wake of the drone chaos at Gatwick airport.
Sussex Police were criticised after claiming there may not have been a drone, before backtracking and saying there had been numerous reports of sightings.
After a couple were arrested and then released without charge, bosses of Gatwick Airport stepped in to offer a £50,000 reward for information.
Tougher anti-drone technology systems at UK airports have been called for which can spot drones for up to five miles away.
US airports use jammers to block the frequencies used to control drones, making them stop working if they are anywhere near a commercial or military runway.
They also have 'early warning' systems to tell air traffic control if a drone is approaching - but these are not in place at UK airports.
Following the end to the initial drone-related disturbance at Gatwick, Security Minister Ben Wallace said: 'I can say that we are able to now deploy detection systems throughout the UK to combat this threat.'
On Tuesday, the Government announced a package of measures designed to give police extra powers to combat drones.
The exclusion zone around airports will be extended to approximately a three mile-radius, with additional extensions from runway ends.
Ministers also announced that from November 30 operators of drones, weighing between 250g and 20kg, will be required to register and take an online drone pilot competency test.
Police will also be able to issue fixed-penalty notices for minor drone offences to ensure immediate and effective enforcement of the new rules.
Fines of up to £100 could be given for offences such as failing to comply with a police officer when instructed to land a drone, or not showing their registration to operate a drone.
Labour have accused the Government of being 'slow off the mark' to tackle threat from drone technology.
'It was probably a plastic bag blowing in the wind': Frustrated passengers take to social media to blast Heathrow drone chaos
The north runway was grounded for around an hour after reports of drone sighting at 5pm caused all departures to be halted.
Dozens caught up in the delays have been taking to Twitter to vent their frustration with the situation.
Frustrated passengers have been taking to Twitter (above and below) to express their frustration with the delays this evening
One user, called Nadim Baig, said: 'My luck, drone sighting and now my flight is at a standstill just before departure.'
While another, said: 'Sitting on a plane at Heathrow. Plane not going anywhere due to drones.'
The runway has now re-opened but numerous passengers are likely to have been caught up in the situation.
One frustrated tweeted wrote: 'Stuck on the runway at Heathrow because of a drone sighting.'
While another said: 'Citizens of the UK should be rather worried that the presence of a real or imaginary flying helicopter toy can outwit and bring an entire airport to a standstill.'
Dozens have taken to Twitter to share their thoughts on the latest reported drone sighting (above and below). It comes just weeks after London's second busiest airport, Gatwick, was severely disrupted when drones were sighted on three consecutive days in December
The incident comes just weeks after London's second busiest airport, Gatwick, was severely disrupted when drones were sighted on three consecutive days in December.
The disruption resulted in about 1,000 flights being cancelled or diverting and affecting 140,000 passengers.
Several tweeters picked up on the chaos wrought by the drones, with one user saying: 'The UK thinks they're competent enough to survive complex situations like a no-deal Brexit. But they can't even win the battle against a drone or two.'
While another, called Alastair, wrote: 'When a piece of remote-controlled plastic can shut down the country's largest airport, it doesn't bode well for our ability to tough out the threatened Brexit nightmare.'
Frustrated passengers have been sharing photos from grounded planes after drone sightings halted takeoffs from Heathrow airport for around an hour
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https://hienalouca.com/2019/01/08/heathrow-airport-runway-closed-for-an-hour-after-reports-of-a-drone-sighting/
Main photo article Drone sightings have brought chaos for thousands of passengers at Heathrow airport tonight with all flights grounded for an hour as police investigated.
Many travellers are still waiting on the tarmac unable to take off from the airport, which is the UK’s largest, serving more than 20...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca
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