Ireland's Dublin Airport closed for 25 minutes because of drone

Robert Besser
04 Feb 2023, 19:27 GMT+10

Dublin Airport was briefly shut down on February 3 after a drone was discovered flying within its airspace.
Following protocols, both incoming and outgoing flights were suspended.
Operations at Dublin Airport resumed at 7:10pm, following the 25 minute shutdown.

DUBLIN, Ireland: Dublin Airport was briefly shut down on Friday after a drone was discovered flying within its airspace.

Officials diverted a number of incoming flights to Shannon Airport.

Officials report that air traffic controllers were notified of a drone sighting within Dublin Airport's airspace around 6:45pm.

Following protocols, both incoming and outgoing flights were suspended.

During the alert, those aircraft on the airport tarmac, as they were preparing to depart, were ordered to hold their positions.

Officials also report that Ryanair flight FR-113 from England, which was in the process of landing, was instructed to abort the landing and 'go around' after a drone was seen 'over the airfield'.

The Ryanair flight returned to flying over the Irish Sea, until diverted to Shannon Airport. Additionally, Ryanair flights from Alicante and Glasgow were also diverted to Shannon.

Other approaching flights were placed in holding patterns over the Irish Sea.

Airport officials have since said that the drone was sighted over the airport's hangar area.

Operations at Dublin Airport resumed at 7:10pm, following the 25 minute shutdown. Those aircraft in holding patterns were then cleared for landing.

A similar occurrence with a drone shut down Dublin Airport last month.

Irish law states that it is illegal to fly a drone within 5km of an airport.

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