Drone suspects released as Gatwick officials offer reward

Two people arrested after reports of drone activity caused chaos at Gatwick Airport have been released without charge as the airport offered a reward of £50,000 ($US63,290) for information leading an arrest and conviction. The middle-aged couple was arrested by Sussex police on Friday after the drone sightings caused about 1000 flights to be canceled or diverted and the travel plans of some 140,000 people thrown into chaos. Police questioned the couple for 36 hours but said both had co-operated with inquiries and they were satisfied they were no longer suspects. Authorities are investigating 67 drone sightings made by members of the public, passengers, police officers and Gatwick Airport staff during the airport’s busiest travel time of the year. They have also recovered a damaged drone and are conducting house-to-house inquiries. A forensic investigation is underway into the damaged drone and may give police another lead. "Obviously we will be doing everything we can with regards to forensically examining that drone and that is something that is being fast-tracked and expedited," Sussex Police chief superintendent Jason Tingley told Sky News. READ: LATAM 777 deployed wind turbine after serious electrical failure. Drone defense expert and chief executive of Droneshield Oleg Vornik said there was technology that would be plugged into a drone and would download all its data. That included all the photographs taken by the drone. “As silly as it sounds, these usually include videos and photographs of the pilots of drone, they like taking selfies effectively using drones,’’ he said. The people responsible for the unprecedented drone disruption face up to five years’ jail Gatwick Airport officials said in a statement that the £50,000 reward for the arrest and conviction “of those responsible for the criminal act that disrupted our flights over three days at the airport”. “If anyone has information, they should contact Crimestoppers 100 percent anonymously on 0800 555 111 or report information through their anonymous online form at Crimestoppers website. “Payout on the reward will be made only if the information is given to Crimestoppers first.”