Airport drones: 'Every available avenue is being pursued'

Jersey's authorities say every available avenue is being pursued to identify those responsible for illegally flying drones near Jersey Airport, causing disruption for hundreds of passengers over the weekend.

On Friday and Saturday night, drones flying in Jersey airspace without permission caused a number of flight cancellations and diversions.

Read more here:

'Disruption affecting flight movements' at Jersey Airport - Channel 103

Flights affected by drones for second night running - Channel 103

Some passengers have since arrived, but many are still waiting for the next available flight.

Lee Carpenter, his partner, and her son are among those still stuck in England, after their flight on Saturday had to be cancelled.

He told Channel 103:

"The earliest possible flight we could get was mid-morning on Tuesday.

"Hopefully, other people have been able to get back earlier than that, but we're stuck at Gatwick for a couple of days.

"Not ideal, but when drones are spotted around an airport, the number one priority is people's safety, so (we) fully understand that the airport had to close.

"The vast majority of people did everything they possibly could to help."

A police investigation has been launched to find those responsible.

Anyone who sees someone operating a drone in the vicinity of the airport is being urged not to approach them.

The advice is to note the location and other important details, and to call 999 immediately.

More here: Appeal after drone reports near Jersey Airport - Channel 103

Jersey is working with UK authorities and specialist agencies to gain extra support, including the use of anti-drone technology.

Chief Minister, Senator Lyndon Farnham, said every available avenue is being pursued to identify those responsible, and if that happens, they should expect to face the full consequences of the law.

More here: Jersey working with UK and specialist agencies after drones disrupt flights again - Channel 103

Elliot Cockett, managing director of TDR Studio, a Channel Islands drone production agency, said:

"The one interesting thing about this is that it's multiple drones, and that it's across Friday and Saturday, which is definitely unusual.

"Normally, this sort of case is just one drone that's been spotted somewhere and then it's a bit of a witch hunt, whereas this is multiple drones, so it makes you wonder whether it's co-ordinated or just really bad timing.

"As far as I'm aware in Guernsey and Jersey, there isn't a drone registration scheme. In the UK, there is. The law over there, amongst getting a licence, if you want to do it professionally, you do also have to register your drone(s) and print that registration and put it on the side of your drone, much like an aircraft registration.

"I think that's a great idea, but in cases like what we've had over the weekend, it doesn't really help because, yeah you can zoom in with your phone camera, but you may not get a clear picture of the reg of that drone.

"I suppose every little helps, but ultimately that sort of thing is only useful for when a drone crashes, because if somebody is flying with malicious intent near the airport, they're probably not necessarily doing it low either, they're probably aware of people spotting the drones.

"If they did have to put a registration on it, that would probably give them more reason to just fly higher, or do something more disruptive."

There's more information on the risks caused by drones being flown in airport airspace without permission here.