Police have revealed that the drone responsible for hundreds of cancelled or diverted Gatwick flights might not have even existed.
Officers were said to be keeping an open mind after a damaged drone was discovered at the airport on December 22.
But while Detective Chief Superintendent for Surrey and Sussex Police Jason Tingley said it was a working assumption that the aerial vehicle is connected to airports closure, he could not confirm its involvement.
We are also going through many reports of sightings of drone activity over the last few days, he said.
We are meticulously going through that information to see if that produces any other further lines of inquiry, and also where we may focus our efforts in terms of house-to-house inquiries, CCTV footage, and any other information that will help us work through this investigation.
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He added that there was always a possibility that there may not have been any genuine drone activity in the first place, but that officers were working on a range of information from members of the public, police officers and Gatwick staff who had said otherwise.
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Drones were first spotted at Gatwick on the night of December 19, causing the airport to grind to a halt the next day.
It was then shut for 36 hours after more than 50 sightings of a drone, with more than 140,000 people having their flights cancelled or delayed.
A couple arrested on December 21 in connection to the drone have since been released without charge.
Former soldier Paul Gait, 47, and his wife Elaine Kirk, 54, were held in custody for 36 hours after a tip-off from a member of the public.
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John Allard, whose daughter Gemma had an eight-year relationship with Mr Gait and is the mother of his 15-year-old son, slammed the police for their appalling investigation.
The 68-year-old, who runs Allard Double Glazing where Mr Gait works, said he could have provided police with a clear alibi for his employee if they had only asked.
I know Paul well, hes worked for me for 17 years and this is going to hit him like a 10-tonne truck, he said.
Paul Gait is as harmless as a bloody new born fly. He really is, hes the most inoffensive bloke youll ever meet.
Although there was a complete lack of evidence, the police ripped his house apart.
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He refers to me as a second father and he always comes to me if there are any problems in his life. I know this will mentally destroy him.
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Paul Gait doesnt own a drone. The drone he had he sold back in mid-summer. It was only a silly little one – anyone could have gone and bought in Hamleys.
Sussex Police have really dropped the ball on this. I have always supported the police and I like to think I always would but in this case I think they have really got it wrong.
Lets also not overlook the fact I am wondering what long-term damage this would have on my business.
Gatwick Airport is now back open and running as normal, confirming that they have not had any flight cancellations relating to drone activity today.
They are currently offering a reward of £50,000 for information leading to the capture of those responsible.
It is thought the cost of the temporary shut down could cost the airport millions.
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