The key facts
- Flights from Heathrow, Gatwick and Southampton changed their routes due to reports of UAVs
- Resuming flights required 30 minutes without drone activity
- In July, Jersey Airport had already been temporarily closed due to a drone
Disruptions at Jersey Airport
Jersey Airport in the English Channel experienced disruptions on the evening of October 30 due to reports of drones near the runway. This was reported by the local radio station Channel 103, whose data is cited by Life.ru. The restrictions affected flights from London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports, as well as from Southampton: aircraft heading to the island had to change their routes.
What passengers went through
One traveler said that his plane was already on approach when the crew received information about two drones near the airport. Due to limited fuel reserves, the airliner had to return to Gatwick to refuel. Later, passengers were told that the number of spotted drones had allegedly increased to four. Those who were unable to land on the island on the evening of October 30 were advised to contact their airlines to clarify further plans.
How flights were restored and what is known about the rules
According to Channel 103, resuming flights required waiting for at least 30 minutes without drone activity; the airport planned to extend its operating hours to handle the delayed flights. On the island, there is a ban on drone flights within a two-nautical-mile radius (about 3.7 km) of the airport without permission from the air traffic control service. This is not the first such incident: in July, the runway was temporarily closed after a drone sighting, and police and firefighters inspected the area before operations resumed.
Context of other drone incidents
Life.ru also recalls a recent incident at the German Leipzig/Halle airport: there, unknown persons damaged a protective fence near three Russian An-124 cargo aircraft. Police suggested that a car may have driven through the fence, but neither the vehicle nor any unauthorized individuals were found; the northern runway was temporarily closed. These events are not connected to the situation in Jersey, but they are occurring against the backdrop of increasingly frequent reports of drones near airports.
