Drone flights will be banned during Obama's visit to London

Transport Secretary says ban on drones is "part of the overarching security plan".

Drones have been banned in parts of London while Barack Obama visits the UK this week. An advisory published by the National Air Traffic Service (NATS) and regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), has put restrictions on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other aircraft from Thursday evening on April 21st until the morning of Sunday April 24th. It's part of Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin's "overarching security plan" to keep the US president and First Lady safe while on British soil.

According to the bulletin, drone flights will not be permitted between 9pm on Thursday and 10:30am on Sunday over three separate areas. The first stretches from Haringey in the north of London down to Purley in the south, while the second aims to cover the skies when the Obamas join the Queen for launch at Windsor Castle as part of her 90th birthday celebrations. The final restriction in place between London and Stansted Airport. During those four days, drones or any other form of small aircraft will not be allowed to fly below 762 metres (2,500 feet).

While similar rules have been put in force for other important occasions and high-profile events, the presidential visit comes just days after a drone struck a British Airways plane preparing to land at Heathrow Airport. London police believe a UAV was flying flying at approximately 1,700 feet when it struck BA727 shortly after midday on Sunday. It's currently appealing for any witnesses who may have seen a pilot operating the drone in or around Richmond Park.