Gatwick airport drone chaos: 'We just want to get home', say tearful travellers

Tearful passengers stuck at Gatwick today told of their frustration and misery as travel plans for Christmas were thrown into disarray.

Families with children and pregnant women were seen sleeping on the floor, wrapped in blankets and surrounded by their luggage.

Jana Bihary is facing a race against time to visit her seriously ill father Mira, 61, in hospital in Prague.

The NHS worker from Portsmouth was due take an easyJet flight with her six-year-old daughter this evening but now fears she will not be able to travel as the backlog is cleared. She said: “My father had heart surgery yesterday. He is sedated and on a ventilator. I want to get there as soon as possible.

A woman is left in tears at Gatwick airport
Jeremy Selwyn

“Gatwick are saying to still come to the airport but my fear is we will get there and won’t be able to fly. My worry is if they cancel the flight, we won’t get another until after Christmas. I just want to be there to see my dad.”

Gatwick chaos - In pictures

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Mary Isokariari’s flight from Portugal into Gatwick was diverted to Cardiff, which left her facing an £850 fare to get home to London after charges for cabs more than doubled.

She said: “It’s raining heavily in Cardiff, we are all exhausted, hungry and frustrated. After hours of travelling and being stuck on the plane, we just want to get home.” Floriane Tarrou, 24, was in a sleeping bag next to the easyJet departures desk after her 6am flight to Montpellier was cancelled.

The French teacher said: “They knew at 9pm last night there were problems with a drone but still didn’t advise us not to travel to the airport… I live and work in London and want to get home for Christmas. I am worried I am not going to make it.”

Her friend Sarah Shaffner, 24, an au pair in London, said: “We have no information — it’s not acceptable.”

Dillan Batley, 20, and his girlfriend Remi Denton, 19, were due to head to Hamburg with easyJet. He said: “We’re gutted, we just didn’t know what’s happening and we’re just left to sit here slumped with our suitcases.”

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