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An officer investigating the drone chaos at Gatwick Airport says there is no footage of the device which sparked it and it is "a possibility" there never was one.

Asked about speculation there was never such a drone flown over the airport, Detective Chief Superintendent Jason Tingley told the BBC: "Of course, that's a possibility. We are working with human beings saying they have seen something.

"Until we've got more clarity around what they've said, the detail - the time, place, direction of travel, all those types of things - and that's a big task."

The incident, which was sparked by a drone sighting on Wednesday at around 9pm, left planes stopped from coming to or from the airport.

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

Some 140,000 people were affected as services were delayed or cancelled.

However, Mr Tingley also said one of the "working theories" was that a damaged drone found close to the airport in Horley was responsible for causing the disruption.

"Always look at it with an open mind, but actually it's very basic common sense that a damaged drone, which may have not been there at a particular point in time has now been seen by an occupier, a member of the public, and then they've told us, 'we've found this'.

"Then we go and forensically recover it and do everything we can at that location to try and get a bit more information."

Mr Tingley said police are running a three-pronged investigation into the alleged crime.

This is including working through information relating to "persons of interest", as well as investigating more than 67 drone sightings and forensically examining the damaged drone.

He explained the examination could be hampered by the wet weather on Friday and Saturday, which could have washed away evidence.

He also could not rule out the risk the culprits would strike again at Gatwick or another airport.

Mr Tingley said: "Someone, somewhere knows either the perpetrator or perpetrators responsible for this, or has information relating to these incidents. But secondly, our tactical response, should there be any more drone sightings, is still in place."

He added that he hopes reward money of £50,000 from Crimestoppers and an additional £10,000 from the charity's chairman Lord Ashcroft would persuade someone to come forward with the vital clue.

Following the comment on the possibility of their being no drone, Mr Tingley added: "We are actively investigating sightings of drone activity.

"We are interviewing those who have reported these sightings, are carrying out extensive house to house enquiries and carrying out a forensic examination of a damaged drone found near the perimeter of the airport near Horley, which is close to the last reported sighting."

Earlier on Saturday, it was announced a man and woman arrested over the Gatwick Airport drone chaos were released without charge.

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

Mr Tingley said the arrests made on Friday night were as a result of a tip-off from a member of the public.

"I'm completely satisfied the arrests were lawful, bearing in mind the burden of proof and likely suspicion at the time of arrest," he said.

"Obviously we had to be sure prior to release, in terms of that investigation, they were no longer suspects."

Mr Tingley continued: "I won't apologise, but what I will say is we really do appreciate their co-operation and we have put a lot of effort and resources into supporting them when they were released from questioning."

Following disruption at the airport, flights began to resume a close to normal schedule on Sunday, though some delays continued.