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Environmental group Greenpeace and activists' collective Extinction Rebellion have been forced to deny they are behind the drone causing chaos at Gatwick Airport.

It has been reported that the disruption is being deliberately caused in response to Gatwick’s plans for a second runway announced earlier this year.

No organisation has claimed responsibility.

As Gatwick entered a second day of grounded flights due to drones flying nearby, many of the UK’s newspapers speculated that “eco-warriors” were responsible.

The Sun claimed an “eco-warrior lone wolf” drone pilot was behind the disruption.

The Telegraph quoted a Whitehall source who said “an eco-protest is at this stage a definite line of inquiry”.

The Times also claimed environmental activists were behind the drone.

Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling, told the BBC Radio 4: "This is something that has not been experienced before. This is a new kind of attack,” adding: "could be environmental protest" but "we genuinely don't know.”

Police have said an eco-protest is one line of enquiry they are looking at among others.

Extinction Rebellion tweeted that it was not involved in the incident: “Extinction Rebellion is not involved with the drones at Gatwick Airport. We've heard there are rumours circulating.

“We remind people that our actions are always 'above the ground' meaning we stand by our actions, are accountable and take the consequences.”

Plane Stupid, a direct action group fighting airport expansion also said it was not behind the drone, tweeting: “One drone causes more disruption than we ever have.”

A spokesman from Greenpeace said: "The disruption at Gatwick Airport is not us. When we do something we always take responsibility for our actions."

Hundreds of thousands of passengers were affected by the major security operation at Gatwick Airport, which started on Thursday evening.

No planes were able to land or leave for 36 hours.

The runway has now reopened for a limited number of flights.