Gatwick Airport: What penalty could a drone operator face?

The person - or people - responsible for flying drones near Gatwick Airport has caused chaos for thousands of passengers. But how serious an offence is being committed? And what punishment could be handed down? Endangering the safety of an aircraft is a criminal offence which can carry a prison sentence of up to five years. The government passed legislation earlier this year making it illegal to fly a drone within 1km of an airport or airfield boundary in the UK.