Police are to be handed extra powers to combat drones after the mass disruption at Gatwick Airport in the run up to Christmas.
Gatwick was repeatedly forced to close between December 19 and 21 due to reported drone sightings, affecting around 1,000 flights.
In response the Government has announced a package of measures which include plans to give police the power to land, seize and search drones.
The exclusion zone around airports will be extended to approximately a 5km-radius (3.1-miles), with additional extensions from runway ends.
Ministers also announced that from November 30 operators of drones, weighing between 250g and 20kg, will be required to register and take an online drone pilot competency test.
Police will also be able to issue fixed-penalty notices for minor drone offences to ensure immediate and effective enforcement of the new rules.
No arrests have been made in connection with the Gatwick incident since a couple were released without charge on December 23.
Sussex Police has said it is continuing to investigate “relevant sightings” from 115 witnesses – 93 of whom it described as “credible” – including airport staff, police officers and a pilot.
Speaking in the Commons, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said the disruption caused to flights at Gatwick was “deliberate, irresponsible and calculated, as well as illegal”.
Chris Grayling, the Transport Secretary, is giving a statement in the Commons in response to the 2018 @transportgovuk drone consultation. Watch: https://t.co/CTZgdULQ48
— UK House of Commons (@HouseofCommons) January 7, 2019
He said: “I’m very clear that when caught those responsible should face the maximum possible custodial sentence for this hugely irresponsible criminal act.”
Mr Grayling said the Ministry of Defence remains “on standby” to deal with any further problems at Gatwick or elsewhere as he sought to reassure MPs that national airports are prepared to deal with a repeat.
As he outlined the proposals to deal with drones, Mr Grayling said: “I am clear the Government is taking action to ensure that passengers have confidence their journeys will not be disrupted in future, aircraft can safely use our key transport hubs and criminals misusing drones can be brought to justice.”
Mr Grayling said the issue at Gatwick was solved by “some smart and innovative use of new technology”, but declined to reveal what this was for “security reasons”.
Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald began his response by asking Mr Grayling: “Is that it?
“Announcing the end of a consultation exercise doesn’t constitute action – nor does it go any way to restoring confidence in his capabilities.”
He criticised Mr Grayling’s “dithering and delay” and said it is “stark-staringly obvious that this Secretary of State is not up to the job”.
Tory MP Julian Lewis, who chairs the Commons defence committee, later warned that a “jihadist organisation” could use drones to launch an attack.
He said: “At the moment it would be possible for anybody to go on the internet to buy a simple but substantial device which they could use maliciously, not as in this case to try and close down an airport but to fly into the engine intakes of a plane that was landing or taking off.”
Labour MP Madeleine Moon, who sits on the committee, urged ministers to involve Nato in drone defence planning.
She said: “Drone attacks, using commercially available drones, have been using chemicals and explosive devices on the battlefields of Mosul.
“We were fortunate, we were darn lucky in many respects, in that we had a wake-up call at Gatwick. Can I suggest he not only talks to the MoD but also talks to Nato, where there’s a huge level of expertise about the use of drones on the battlefields that can be bought commercially and used here by terrorists who want to attack us.”
Mr Grayling said he was “very well aware” of the expertise offered by Nato and said the security services had “provided advice” to airports across the country.
