THE TWO people who were arrested in connection with the criminal use of drones which caused disruption at Gatwick Airport have been released without charge.
The pair were arrested on Friday at about 10pm in Crawley. They have been released today.
Gatwick Airport has offered a £50,000 reward through Crimestoppers, for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the criminal act that disrupted flights.
Sussex Police Detective Chief Superintendent Jason Tingley said: “Both people have fully co-operated with our enquiries and I am satisfied that they are no longer suspects in the drone incidents at Gatwick.
“It is important to remember that when people are arrested in an effort to make further enquiries it does not mean that they are guilty of an offence and Sussex Police would not seek to make their identity public.
“Our inquiry continues at a pace to locate those responsible for the drone incursions, and we continue to actively follow lines of investigation."
“We ask for the public’s continued support by reporting anything suspicious, contacting us with any information in relation to the drone incidents at Gatwick."
If people have any information contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or 101.
Payout on the reward will be made only if the information is given to Crimestoppers first.
Gatwick Airport travel updates
Meanwhile, Gatwick Airport said on Saturday morning that the runway is open but passengers are urged to check with their airline before travelling.
Flights from the UK's second biggest airport were grounded for more than a day after devices were spotted inside the perimeter on Wednesday at about 9pm.
The airport fully reopened on Friday after more than 100,000 passengers had their travel plans disrupted, with police saying "proactive investigations" are ongoing.
A handful of flights due to arrive into Gatwick on Saturday have been cancelled, according to the airport's website, including an easyJet service from Milan-Linate and a TUI flight from Bridgetown, Barbados.
Superintendent James Collis of Sussex Police said: "As part of our ongoing investigations into the criminal use of drones which has severely disrupted flights in and out of Gatwick Airport, Sussex Police made two arrests just after 10pm on December 21.
"Our investigations are still ongoing, and our activities at the airport continue to build resilience to detect and mitigate further incursions from drones by deploying a range of tactics.
"We continue to urge the public, passengers and the wider community around Gatwick to be vigilant and support us by contacting us immediately if they believe they have any information that can help us in bringing those responsible to justice."
Anyone with information are asked to call 101 and quote Operation Trebor.
Flights were briefly grounded at the airport on Friday evening after a fresh sighting at around 5.10pm, but military measures reassured operators it was safe to reopen the runway shortly afterwards.
Despite flights resuming after 70 minutes, airlines were still cancelling and delaying outbound flights into Friday night.
Inbound flights were also operating with delays, with some scheduled to arrive at Gatwick in the early hours of Saturday.
Military equipment was used on Friday to stop further drone disruption while a range of tactics are in place if any unmanned aircraft are seen inside the perimeter.
One piece of equipment believed to have been deployed at the airport is the Israeli-developed Drone Dome system, which can detect drones using radar.
It can also jam communications between the drone and its operator, enabling authorities to take control of and land the drone.
Speaking on Friday, chief executive of the airport Stewart Wingate said the drone flights were "highly targeted" and have "been designed to close the airport and bring maximum disruption in the run up to Christmas".
He added: "These events obviously highlight a wider strategic challenge for aviation in this country which we need to address together with speed - the aviation industry, Government and all the other relevant authorities.
"It cannot be right that drones can close a vital part of our national infrastructure in this way.
"This is obviously a relatively new technology and we need to think through together the right solutions to make sure it cannot happen again."
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