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'Eco-warriors' blamed for UK airport shutdown

Eco-Warriors - Level 0

A drone shut England's second largest airport for 30 hours. Police think "eco-warriors" did it to highlight environmental problems. The drone made the airport close its runway. Over 120,000 travellers could not travel. They slept on the airport floor or went to other airports. Some passengers spent nine hours sitting on a plane.

The police want to stop people using drones. Drones could attack other important buildings or make a plane crash. Police tried many times to stop the drone. When they tried to reopen the airport, the drone came again. The police couldn't find the drone's user. The user could get five years in jail.

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Eco-Warriors - Level 1

A drone shut England's second largest airport for 30 hours this week. Police think "eco-warriors" used the drone to raise awareness of environmental problems. The drone stopped airplanes leaving the UK's airport over two days. It had to close its runway. Over 120,000 travellers were affected. They had to sleep on the airport floor or go to other airports. Some passengers spent nine hours sitting on a plane near the boarding gate.

The police want to stop other people using drones to cause danger. They are worried drones could attack airports and other important buildings. Police tried many times to stop the drone. They said: "When we look to reopen the airfield, the drone reappears again." The police and the British Army couldn't find the drone's operator. They are worried a drone could make a plane crash. The user of the drone could get five years in jail.

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Eco-Warriors - Level 2

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A drone shut England's second largest airport for 30 hours this week. Police think "eco-warriors" operated the drone and are looking for them. These activists protest to raise awareness of environmental problems. The drone stopped flights from leaving the UK's Gatwick Airport over two days. The airport had to close its runway. Over 120,000 travellers were affected. Many of them were going home for Christmas. Instead, they had to sleep on the airport floor or find flights from other airports. Some passengers spent nine hours sitting on a plane near the boarding gate.

The police are talking about how to stop other people using drones to cause chaos. They are worried drones could attack airports, nuclear power stations and other important buildings. Police were in "a game of cat and mouse" with the drone. They said: "When we look to reopen the airfield, the drone reappears again." This happened many times. The police and the British Army couldn't find the drone's operator. The police are worried a drone could cause a plane to crash. The operator of the drone could be given five years in jail.

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Eco-Warriors - Level 3

A drone shut down England's second largest airport for 30 hours earlier this week. Police are hunting for the people who operated the drone. The police believe these people are "eco-warriors". These are activists who take part in protests or take action to raise awareness of environmental problems. The drone prevented flights from leaving the UK's Gatwick Airport on Wednesday and Thursday. The airport was forced to close its runway. Over 120,000 travellers have been affected. Many of them were trying to fly home for Christmas. Instead, they had to sleep on the airport floor or try to find flights from other airports. Some passengers spent nine hours sitting on a plane near the boarding gate.

The British government is now talking about the actions it can take if other people use drones to cause chaos. They are worried people could use drones to attack airports, nuclear power stations and other important buildings. Police said they were in "a game of cat and mouse" with the drone. They said: "Each time we believe we got close to the operator, the drone disappears; when we look to reopen the airfield, the drone reappears again." This happened many times. Hundreds of police officers and the British Army helped to find the drone's operator, but couldn't. The police are worried a drone could cause a plane to crash. The operator of the drone could face up to five years in jail.

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