A FAMILY has told of its despair after drones ruined their first holiday together in ten years.

Patrick Kneath and Louise Harris-Kneath along with their sons Charlie, 15, and Monty, 12, were due to fly to Neunburg in Germany this afternoon.

But flights from Gatwick Airport were grounded after two drones were “deliberately” flown in attempts to cause misery for thousands of holiday-makers.

Patrick describes his family as “devastated, distressed and disappointed” after British Airways cancelled their the long-awaited Christmas-getaway.

He said: “That’s the holiday down the tubes then - we have just cancelled our hotels, hire car, everything.

“We had our pets going into kennels, the car parking was sorted, and our hotel tonight had already been paid for”

Sharpshooters wearing plain clothes and standing by a 4x4 were pictured earlier this morning.

It is believed they were brought in to shoot the offending drones out of the sky.

Patrick said: “We were hoping to go and drive to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, for the Christmas market.

“My two sons have really been looking forward to it.

“Devastated, distressed, disappointed doesn’t cover it.”

The Argus:
Patrick and his family are devastated after drones cause flight cancellations

Sussex Police have said that the incident does not appear to be terror-related but are continuing their hunt for the people flying “industrial specification” drones in the airport.

Richard Johnstone from Kent, was travelling to Australia yesterday evening when he was caught in the Christmas chaos.

The 59-year-old, along with other passengers, sat on his plane for eight-and-a-half hours between 8.30pm and 5am.

Richard, along with the hundreds of other passengers, were then told they would be spending the night at Jury’s Inn in Brighton.

The Argus:
Richard Johnstone spent hours stuck on his plane before being put-up at the Jury's Inn

He said: “They eventually let us off the flights to pick up our bags and booked us two nights at the Jury’s Inn.

“If we all stay another night I’m going to get the hotel’s reception to say to everyone to meet in the bar and put on all of our holiday clothes.”

A Government spokesman has condemned act of flying the drones which has caused a meltdown at the UK’s second largest airport as “irresponsible and completely unacceptable”.

Richard Speed, 46, was travelling with his wife Bryony and their daughter six-year-old Agatha, were travelling to Lapland for a Christmas-themed holiday.

Richard, who was expecting to be flying at 5am, said: “Imagine an aircraft-worth of kids excited about going to see Santa.

“Imagine those kids having spent eight hours at Gatwick, waiting.

“Now imagine letting half through a boarding gate - then sending the whole lot back again.”

Richard took a picture of an Easyjet worker standing on an airport desk, struggling to convey information to confused and disgruntled passengers.

The Argus:

He said: “This surprise trip to Lapland for the six-year-old to meet Santa isn’t going well.

“Luckily there is an EasyJet employee standing on a table and shouting at passengers to keep us all entertained.”