Dublin Airport flights hit by drone sighting

At around 11.50am on Thursday the airport announced that flights were being grounded to ensure the safety and security of passengers.

Within 15 minutes operations had resumed.

The airport apologised for the inconvenience to passengers.

“Flight operations have now resumed @DublinAirport following an earlier drone sighting,” the airport tweeted.

“We apologise for any inconvenience. The safety and security of passengers is always our key priority.”

Announcing the decision to suspend operations, the airport earlier said there had been a “confirmed sighting of a drone over the airfield”.

Before Christmas, drone sightings caused travel chaos at Gatwick Airport, near London.

Aircraft were grounded over three days, with 1,000 flights cancelled and 140,000 passengers affected.

Aer Lingus said passengers using Dublin Airport may experience delays.

“Flights have resumed at Dublin Airport following a brief closure due to a drone sighting,” the Irish airline tweeted.

“Some delays may be experienced today as a result, but we’ll be doing everything possible to minimise these.”

In January, Ireland’s Transport Minister Shane Ross convened a meeting of experts to discuss the threat posed by drones.

He said while the prospect of an attack was “low”, authorities needed to be vigilant.

The National Civil Aviation Threat and Risk Group meeting involved the Garda, Defence Forces, officials from the departments of transport, justice and foreign affairs, the Irish Aviation Authority, and representatives from Ireland’s airports and airlines.

After Thursday’s incident, Ireland’s main opposition party Fianna Fail called for more government action.

Transport spokesman Robert Troy TD said: “In the first instance I am glad that the disruption to flights in Dublin Airport was kept to a minimum and that all flights have resumed, however let there be no doubt about it, it could have been much more chaotic.

“Minister Ross’s previous comments that the likelihood of a drone attack in Ireland was ‘low’ clearly shows his lack of understanding of the seriousness of the issue.

“Following the drone sightings at Gatwick Airport, he was at pains to stress that the regulatory provisions in place in Ireland, which control and restrict the use of drones, were stronger than those of the UK.

“His dismissive attitude and the failure of the Government to progress the Fianna Fail Bill to regulate drone usage which was brought forward by my party colleague James Lawless, will lead to further disruptions such as was seen in Dublin Airport today.

“Having our air space compromised by the threat of drones is not something they can continue to ignore.”