Heathrow halts flights after ‘drone sighting’

Heathrow Airport suspended departures on Tuesday as officials responded to a drone sighting in the area.

“We are responding to a drone sighting at Heathrow and are working closely with the Met Police to prevent any threat to operational safety,” the London airport announced on Twitter.

“As a precautionary measure, we have stopped departures while we investigate. We apologise to passengers for any inconvenience this may cause.”

We are responding to a drone sighting at Heathrow and are working closely with the Met Police to prevent any threat to operational safety. As a precautionary measure, we have stopped departures while we investigate. We apologise to passengers for any inconvenience this may cause.

— Heathrow Airport (@HeathrowAirport) January 8, 2019

{mosads}Operations apparently resumed later in the day, according to a flight tracking web site.

Tuesday’s incident at Heathrow comes less than a month after drone sightings left thousands stranded at Gatwick Airport, also in London. 

The two people initially arrested in connection with the disruption were released because they cooperated with authorities and were no longer considered suspects.

A damaged drone was found near Gatwick a week after the incident.

–Updated at 1:51 p.m.