Passengers hoping to jet off on a Christmas getaway have been left stranded at Gatwick Airport after drones were seen on the airfield.
All flights to and from one of the UK’s busiest airports were suspended just after 9pm on Wednesday after “multiple reports” of two drones in the air.
The runway was briefly reopened at 3am only to be closed again 45 minutes later.
Outgoing flights have been grounded and incoming planes have been redirected – some as far as Paris and Amsterdam.
As of 7.45am on Thursday, Gatwick Airport stated on their Twitter page that “flights to and from Gatwick remain suspended, due to drone activity.”
They added: “Please do not travel to the airport without checking with your airline first. We’re sorry for the inconvenience today, but the safety of our passengers and staff is our no.1 priority.”
It is not yet known when the runways will reopen.
Here’s everything you need to know about checking the status of your flight and finding out whether you’re entitled to compensation:
How many flights have been suspended?
The airport are yet to release official figures of how many flights have been affected.
However, Chris Woodroofe, the airport’s chief operating officer, told the BBC about 2,000 flights had been unable to take off – affecting 10,000 passengers.
How do I know if my flight has been affected?
Passengers are being urged to check the status of their flight before travelling.
You can check if your flight has been affected here.
Can I claim compensation if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
According to consumer watchdog Which? , if the reason for cancellation is due to your airline, you can choose to be rerouted on an alternative flight or cancel your flight and request a refund.
However, if the airline can prove the cancellation was caused by ‘extraordinary circumstances,’ no compensation is payable.
Drones flying over the airfield is deemed a security risk, and therefore would be included under extraordinary circumstances.
So whilst your airline is under no obligation to offer compensation in this circumstance, you will be entitled to meals, refreshments, accommodations and hotel transfers depending on the length of your flight and delay.
