Jersey airport shuts to inbound flights after two days of drone sightings
Four flights were blocked from landing on Saturday as police investigate the 'illegal' activity near the airfield.
By Henry Wilson ·
Drones hovering near the airfield forced Jersey Airport to block inbound planes on Friday and Saturday. The disruption prevented four flights from landing on Saturday evening alone. Authorities called the aerial activity illegal and persistent.
The chaos affected passengers arriving from across the region. British Airways flight BA1356, which departed Heathrow, had to turn back to London mid-air. An ASL Airlines plane from Funchal, Portugal, diverted to Paris instead. A Loganair flight from Southampton was cancelled entirely. The airport said airlines are now arranging alternative transport for stranded travelers.
One resident stuck on a diverted flight said she was kept from getting home to her two dogs. She described the situation as being caused by people flying four drones near the airport. She called the operators imbeciles in a comment shared online.
Senator Lyndon Farnham, the chief minister of Jersey, addressed the incident publicly. He described the drone operations over the past two evenings as deliberate and unlawful. Farnham noted that the activity disrupted passengers, airlines, and airport operations. He thanked the Ports of Jersey, States of Jersey Police, Air Traffic Control, and emergency services for their response. He said their priority was the safety of the traveling public and aircrew.
A police investigation is currently underway. Farnham said options are being explored with UK authorities for extra operational support. He also mentioned ramped-up detection capability and counter-drone technology. He urged the public to check with their airlines regarding flight status.
The chief minister warned that operating a drone near an airport is not a harmless hobby. He stated that it puts public safety at risk and disrupts critical transport infrastructure. He told those responsible that if they are identified, they should expect to face the full consequences of the law. The airport confirmed it is experiencing disruption affecting inbound flights as a result of the activity in the vicinity of the airfield.
Source: Metro
