Flights carrying hundreds of passengers were diverted from Dublin Airport – after light from daa equipment was mistaken for a drone, it has emerged.
Dublin Live has confirmed that Friday’s alert – which saw four passenger jets in the air diverted and led to the shutting down of the runways for more than 30 minutes – was caused by the daa equipment. Sources have told us that the major alert started when the light shone into the sky – prompting fears that a drone was flying over the area.
Investigations have now established that no drone was in the area, the Dublin Airport Authority confirmed to us yesterday – but said similar alerts on Saturday and Monday were genuine. A spokesman said: “We have concluded that on Friday there was no drone present but the presence of drones on Saturday afternoon and Monday afternoon has been verified and these incidents are being investigated by An Garda Siochana.”
Read more: Dublin Airport drone issues could see enhanced technology introduced to prevent flight stoppages
Four Ryanair flights – from Gatwick, Glasgow, Alicante and Malaga- were all diverted to either Shannon or Belfast, while other planes had to go around or take holding patterns over the Irish Sea during the alert. The alert started at 6.45pm and it was cleared at 7.10pm.
There were real drone sightings at the airport on Saturday and Monday – and gardai are now investigating them. A spokesman for Dublin Airport Authority told us: “The flying of drones near Dublin Airport is reckless. DAA strongly urges drone owners to follow the strict regulations on the operation of drones to avoid a repeat of the disruption to our passengers, airline partners over recent days.
“The drone detection system in place at Dublin Airport, working in tandem with input from airline pilots, ground crew and Air Traffic Control, provides a robust monitoring system which allows for a safe and timely response to these incidents to allow us to focus on our top priorities, safety and security. Investigations into the various drone incidents over the weekend are continuing.
"We have concluded that on Friday there was no drone present but the presence of drones on Saturday afternoon and Monday afternoon has been verified and these incidents are being investigated by An Garda Siochana. DAA is keen to see prosecutions follow in the near future to help send a clear message to drone owners that the flying of drones within the five kilometre exclusion zone around Dublin Airport is strictly forbidden and is illegal.”
News of the laser incident – which caused massive disruption to thousands of would-be passengers on Friday evening as well as the two genuine incidents – came as Transport Minister Eamon Ryan warned that gardai would come down heavy on anyone using drone illegally around the airport. Speaking on his way into Cabinet on Tuesday morning, Minister Ryan said that his Department of Transport will meet with Dublin Airport to see what can be done about the issue.
However, the Green Party leader acknowledged that it is a difficult task. “It’s against the law and it is causing huge disruption,” Minister Ryan said.
Read more: Dublin Airport: Transport Minister warns of 'heavy' garda response to disruptive drones
“Whatever means of supporting the airport, we’re going to have to make sure that they’re not disrupting flights. We’re sitting down with the airport and looking at all the different [...] what are the mechanisms?
“It is very hard to do [given] the scale of the airport and the size of a drone. But the guards also have a particular role. Anyone doing this, obviously, is subject to arrest.
“That, I think, is the best way of stopping it; Advising people if they are [flying drones near an airport], they’re taking huge risks with their own liberty. Anyone doing it has to be aware that it is highly illegal.
"They will be subject to the guards coming down, in my mind, heavy because it creates huge disruption, there are real safety issues. We will make sure working with the guards and the airport that everything is done to try and stop it.”
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