Police still searching for operator of drone over Gatwick Airport

A traveler stranded at Gatwick Airport. — (Image credit: AP Photo/Tim Ireland)

Authorities are still trying to figure out who is operating a drone over London's Gatwick Airport.

The drone was first spotted on Wednesday night, and the airport — the second-busiest in the United Kingdom — was shut down, leaving thousands of travelers stranded. In the days since, hundreds of flights have been canceled. Early Friday morning, the airport announced it is "working with airlines and air traffic controllers to introduce a limited number of flights over the coming hours."

Police and the Army are both searching for the drone operator. Police say this is a "deliberate act," and they are now considering using a firearm to bring the drone down.

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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.