Police investigating the Gatwick drone sightings admit they are also considering the possibility that it’s all been one big mistake.
Detectives have found one damaged drone close to the last reported sighting at Gatwick Airport giving them potential forensic clues.
But so far, they have not said what type of drone they found or of there are any clues how long it has been there.
Detective Chief Superintendent Jason Tingley said: “We are also going through many reports of sightings of drone activity over the last few days.
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.
“We are working with human beings saying they have seen something,” he said.
He also warned it was possible the culprits would strike again at Gatwick or another airport.
An emergency meeting of ministers is scheduled for Monday amid fears there will be copycat drone flights.
They will discuss the security precautions at other UK airports amid accusations the Government ignored warnings from pilots and air traffic controllers of the potential threat which could be posed by drones flown into sensitive airspace.
Around 1,000 flights were cancelled or diverted after drones were spotted inside the perimeter of the UK’s second biggest airport last Wednesday and approximately 140,000 passengers were affected.
In the four days before Christmas Day, up to 2.5 million people are expected to arrive and depart on around 15,000 flights, and Sunday was expected to be the busiest travel day.