Dublin Airport has described the flying of drones as “irresponsible” and “reckless” after they were forced to suspend flights following the sighting of one.
The drone was spotted close to the runway at around 7pm on Monday and the same thing happened on both Friday and Saturday, with arrivals and departures grounded for a period of time.
Across the three days of disruption, a number of flights were unable to land and forced to divert to Belfast and Shannon.
Ryanair said thousands were affected and that the Transport Minister should do more to protect the country's main airport from illegal drone activity.
We're now calling on the Dept of Transport under @EamonRyan to step up and take action pic.twitter.com/lvdp9pdJF0
— Ryanair (@Ryanair) February 4, 2023
Speaking on his way into Cabinet this morning, the Transport Minister Eamon Ryan anyone flying a drone near the airport is “taking a huge risk with their own liberty”.
He said Government is working with the airport on the issue.
“We’re working with the airport because it is against the law,” he said.
“It is causing huge disruption and whatever means of supporting the airport, we are going to have to make sure they are not disrupting flights.”
The Transport Minister says anyone flying a drone near the airport is “taking a huge risk with their own liberty”.https://t.co/7bbI9XNhTt pic.twitter.com/J2TVasXhPy
— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) February 7, 2023
Minister Ryan said Gardaí “have a particular role to play” in response.
“We are sitting down with the airport and looking at all the different mechanisms,” he said.
“It is very hard to do with the scale of the airport and the size of a drone but the Gardai also have a particular role.
“Anyone doing this, obviously, is subject to arrest and that is certainly the best way of stopping it. [Showing] People they are taking a huge risk with their own liberty.”
In a tweet last night, the DAA reminded the public that it is illegal to fly drones within five kilometres of the airport.
The Department for Transport has been contacted for comment.
Additional reporting from Aoife Kearns.
Main image: Split of a drone and Dublin Airport.
