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A man and woman arrested over the Gatwick Airport drone chaos have been released without charge.

Sussex Police say the 47-year-old man and 54-year-old woman, both from Crawley, are "no longer suspects" in the incident.

Some 1,000 aircraft were cancelled or disrupted during the chaos, which began on Wednesday evening, affecting around 140,000 passengers.

Detective Chief Superintendent Jason Tingley said: “Both people have fully co-operated with our enquiries and I am satisfied that they are no longer suspects in the drone incidents at Gatwick.

Gatwick chaos - In pictures 21 show all Gatwick chaos - In pictures 1/21 Marisa age 10 from West Sussex waiting for a bus to Manchester airport then onto Dubai for a family Christmas Jeremy Selwyn 2/21 Adele Barber mother and kids Philip James and Elizabeth Just back from their holiday in Lapland to see Father Christmas. They were delayed overnight in Lapland Jeremy Selwyn 3/21 Elizabeth Barber Just back from a holiday to Lapland to see Father Christmas with family . Jeremy Selwyn 4/21 Staff try to lift the mood of gloomy travellers Jeremy Selwyn 5/21 Passengers boarding coaches at Gatwick this morning Jeremy Selwyn 6/21 Passengers sleep on the floor of the terminal 7/21 Passengers sleep on the floor of the terminal 8/21 Passengers sleep on the floor of the terminal 9/21 Passengers sleep on the floors and seats of the terminal 10/21 Jeremy Selwyn 11/21 Passengers head for the coaches to catch redirected flights Jeremy Selwyn 12/21 Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today Jeremy Selwyn 13/21 Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today Jeremy Selwyn 14/21 Florinane Tarrou and Sandra Shaffner stranded at Gatwick Airport today Jeremy Selwyn 15/21 Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today Jeremy Selwyn 16/21 Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today Jeremy Selwyn 17/21 Remi Denton 19 and boyfriend Dylan Batley amongst passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today Jeremy Selwyn 18/21 Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today Jeremy Selwyn 19/21 Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today Jeremy Selwyn 20/21 Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today Jeremy Selwyn 21/21 Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today Jeremy Selwyn 1/21 Marisa age 10 from West Sussex waiting for a bus to Manchester airport then onto Dubai for a family Christmas Jeremy Selwyn 2/21 Adele Barber mother and kids Philip James and Elizabeth Just back from their holiday in Lapland to see Father Christmas. They were delayed overnight in Lapland Jeremy Selwyn 3/21 Elizabeth Barber Just back from a holiday to Lapland to see Father Christmas with family . Jeremy Selwyn 4/21 Staff try to lift the mood of gloomy travellers Jeremy Selwyn 5/21 Passengers boarding coaches at Gatwick this morning Jeremy Selwyn 6/21 Passengers sleep on the floor of the terminal 7/21 Passengers sleep on the floor of the terminal 8/21 Passengers sleep on the floor of the terminal 9/21 Passengers sleep on the floors and seats of the terminal 10/21 Jeremy Selwyn 11/21 Passengers head for the coaches to catch redirected flights Jeremy Selwyn 12/21 Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today Jeremy Selwyn 13/21 Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today Jeremy Selwyn 14/21 Florinane Tarrou and Sandra Shaffner stranded at Gatwick Airport today Jeremy Selwyn 15/21 Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today Jeremy Selwyn 16/21 Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today Jeremy Selwyn 17/21 Remi Denton 19 and boyfriend Dylan Batley amongst passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today Jeremy Selwyn 18/21 Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today Jeremy Selwyn 19/21 Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today Jeremy Selwyn 20/21 Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today Jeremy Selwyn 21/21 Passengers stranded at Gatwick Airport today Jeremy Selwyn

“It is important to remember that when people are arrested in an effort to make further enquiries it does not mean that they are guilty of an offence and Sussex Police would not seek to make their identity public.

“Our inquiry continues at a pace to locate those responsible for the drone incursions, and we continue to actively follow lines of investigation.

“We ask for the public’s continued support by reporting anything suspicious, contacting us with any information in relation to the drone incidents at Gatwick."

Mr Tingley also told Sky News that officers had found a damaged drone near the airport, adding that police would be working with the "forensic opportunities that the drone presents".

Gatwick Airport Limited has offered a £50,000 reward through Crimestoppers, for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the criminal act that disrupted flights.

The pair were arrested on Friday night but released on Sunday morning.

The first sighting of drones within the airport's perimeter came on Wednesday night, with flights grounded again around 5pm on Friday after fresh sightings.

Officers were prepared to blast the drones out of the sky with a shotgun, but authorities finally regained control over the airfield after the Army deployed military technology to guard the area.

The Israeli-developed Drone Dome system, which can detect drones using radar, is believed to have been used to jam communications between the drone and its operator.

Police believe more than one unmanned aircraft is responsible for the disruption and are investigating the possibility of multiple culprits.

Speaking on Friday, chief executive of the airport Stewart Wingate said the drone flights were "highly targeted" and have "been designed to close the airport and bring maximum disruption in the run up to Christmas".

He added: "These events obviously highlight a wider strategic challenge for aviation in this country which we need to address together with speed - the aviation industry, government and all the other relevant authorities.

"It cannot be right that drones can close a vital part of our national infrastructure in this way.

"This is obviously a relatively new technology and we need to think through together the right solutions to make sure it cannot happen again."