Thousands of flights have been grounded causing travel chaos for 110,000 stranded passengers after a drone was spotted over Gatwick Airport.
And Jeremy Clarkson and Rachel Riley were among the travellers facing an uncertain Christmas as they were caught up in the conflict caused by the drone.
The former Top Gear presenter, 58, launched into a expletive-laden rant as he vowed vengeance on the unknown person controlling the drone, which caused all 760 flights in and out of Gatwick on Thursday to be cancelled.
Fury: Jeremy Clarkson (above) and Rachel Riley were among the travellers facing an uncertain Christmas as they were caught up in the conflict caused by the drone
See you in two days: Countdown maths guru Rachel, 32, opted to look on the positive side of the cancellation as she tweeted about home comforts
He ranted: ‘I really hope that when the fat s**t at Gatwick is caught, someone kills him.’
Countdown maths guru Rachel, 32, opted to look on the positive side of the cancellation as she tweeted about home comforts.
She wrote: ‘Flight rescheduled for 2 days time. Blimmin drones.
‘Least we’re home, sleep and a shower calling! #Gatwick #Drones.’
Vengeful: The former Top Gear presenter, 58, launched into a expletive-laden rant as he vowed vengeance on the unknown person controlling the drone, which caused all 760 flights in and out of Gatwick on Thursday to be cancelled
Oh dear: Countdown maths guru Rachel, 32, was also caught up in the drone chaos
Positive side: The blonde beauty faces a two day delay for her flight
The unmanned aircraft was spotted again at around 9pm on Thursday after the airport remained shut all day, with police and the drone pilot going head-to-head in a bid to stop the chaos.
Gatwick Airport has told passengers not to come to the airport on Friday as the drone drama enters a third day, plunging tens of thousands of people into chaos on the busiest day of travel before Christmas.
Armed officers carrying Heckler & Koch sniper rifles have been dotted along the runway ready to shoot down the drone but the rogue pilot who has left 110,000 people stranded remained at large tonight.
On Thursday a Gatwick spokesperson said passengers should not come to the airport ‘for the foreseeable future including tomorrow’ when even more holidaymakers have travel plans.
Opinion: The Apprentice star Claude Littner gave his say on the drama
Baffled: Comedian Paddy McGuinness seemed baffled by the incident
Comical: Businessman Duncan Bannatyne poked fun at Jeremy Corbyn in his tweet
Chaos: Gatwick Airport has told passengers not to come to the airport on Friday as the drone drama enters a third day, plunging tens of thousands of people into chaos on the busiest day of travel before Christmas
The airport will be shut all night and Gatwick is making contigency plans in case no flights are possible tomorrow, the airport’s chief operating officer said.
Today 760 flights were grounded over fears the drone could take down a passenger jet with Gatwick’s runway set to be closed until the manhunt ends.
Some passengers stranded at Gatwick – the UK’s second-busiest airport – are anticipating spending the night in the terminal after hotels in the area become fully booked.
The drone could bring down a passenger jet if it was sucked into a jet engine or smashed a hole in the aircraft.
Although marksmen have been deployed, there are several dangers associated with using guns to shoot down the drone.
Drone: The unmanned aircraft was spotted again at around 9pm on Thursday after the airport remained shut all day, with police and the drone pilot going head-to-head in a bid to stop the chaos
Described by the police as of ‘industrial specification’ the drone could be outside of the effective range of a shotgun.
The Heckler & Koch sniper rifles used by police marksmen could also become extremely dangerous if they miss or pass through their target.
Plan of attack: Police said they are now considering shooting down the drone and will soon make arrests
There is also a fear that if the drone was shot, it could cause damage to property or grievously injure civilians when it crashes.
Earlier footage obtained by MailOnline showed the drone flying past Gatwick’s north terminal and over the runway before it dives away and lands to the east of the airport after being chased by a police helicopter.
The drone flights are ‘highly targeted’ and have ‘been designed to close the airport and bring maximum disruption in the run up to Christmas’, the airport said.
Ready: Police marksmen armed with Heckler & Koch HK417 sniper rifles have been stationed on the perimeter of Gatwick and along its runway (pictured) as they prepare to shoot down a drone that have shut down the airport