Jersey Airport has issued a statement following more disruption to UK flights (Image:
An airport popular with Britons was forced to cancel and divert more flights from the UK on Saturday evening after nearby drone activity sparked chaos. Flights at Jersey Airport were disrupted on Saturday evening after drones were flown illegally near the airfield, according to airport officials and the island’s chief minister. The unauthorised drone activity caused disruption to air traffic operations and affected a number of services.
A coordinated response involving multiple agencies was launched after reports of several drones flying near the airport on Friday evening, said States of Jersey Police. The first sighting was reported at around 8.20pm, with drone activity continuing until approximately 10.30pm that night.
Officers carried out searches in a number of locations across the west of the island, but no suspected drone operator had been traced as of Friday, police added. Three incoming flights were diverted after the drone sightings, although one of the aircraft was later cleared to land safely in Jersey at around 11.45pm, police said.
The affected services had been travelling from Gatwick,
The affected services had been travelling from Gatwick, Heathrow and Southampton. Even flights operating from Heathrow and Southampton airports were cancelled on Saturday evening. The airport has advised passengers travelling on Sunday morning to check with their airlines for flight updates.
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Jersey Airport said in a statement: “Due to the illegal and persistent drone activity around the airport on Saturday evening, regrettably four flights were not able to land as scheduled. Airlines are now making alternative travel arrangements directly with passengers to get them to Jersey as quickly as possible.” Our first priority is the safety of passengers, crew and public.
“We also fully appreciate the significant disruption, concern and frustration that this illegal activity has caused passengers, their families, friends and colleagues.”
Jersey’s chief minister, Senator Lyndon Farnham, said:
Jersey’s chief minister, Senator Lyndon Farnham, said: “The deliberate and unlawful operation of drones in the vicinity of Jersey Airport over the past two evenings has caused significant disruption to passengers, airlines and airport operations.
“I would like to thank the teams from Ports of Jersey, States of Jersey Police, Air Traffic Control, the emergency services and all those involved for their swift and professional response to an extremely challenging situation. Their first priority has rightly been the safety of the travelling public and aircrew.”
