Gatwick airport: How can a drone cause so much chaos?
Tehran (KNA) - Thousands of passengers have seen their flights from Gatwick Airport cancelled after two drones were spotted flying over the airfield within a 12-hour period.
The runway is currently shut as officials investigate.
So why has a drone caused so much disruption and what are the risks posed by these devices?
What is a drone?
The term "drone" for some prompts images of air strikes but the sophisticated flying robots used on the battlefield are unlikely to be what we are talking about here.
The vast majority of unmanned aerial vehicles are actually small, remote-controlled quadcopters used by hobbyists and photographers.
These small devices are now a mainstream gadget, which can cost from under £40 to several thousands of pounds.
As well as being a fun gadget for hobbyists, drones are increasingly being used in industries such as construction and retail.
What damage can a drone cause an aircraft?
In October 2017, a drone collided with a commercial aircraft in Canada, striking one of the plane's wings. The plane sustained minor damage but was able to land safely.
Source: BBC