Unauthorised drone activity forced the cancellation of multiple flights at Jersey Airport for a second consecutive night on Saturday, leaving passengers stranded and local workers frustrated by the ongoing disruption.
According to BBC News, the airport reported disruption affecting inbound services at 20:05 on Saturday as a result of drone activity in the vicinity of the airfield. Sky News reported that four flights were unable to land as scheduled, with airlines arranging alternative travel arrangements for affected passengers.
This marks the second night of disruption following similar incidents on Friday 30 October, when three inbound aircraft were initially diverted. On that occasion, a Gatwick flight eventually landed in Jersey at approximately 23:45, while services from Heathrow and Southampton were cancelled entirely.
What do authorities know about the drones?
States of Jersey Police are investigating both nights of incidents and have appealed for information from the public about those responsible. Inspector Rob McCallum stated that it was believed "two or three" drones had entered the restricted airspace, though they were not thought to be connected to terrorism. According to BBC News, Friday's first report came at approximately 20:20, with drone activity continuing until about 22:30. Searches covered several areas in western Jersey, but no operator had been identified by the time of reporting.
Police have requested witnesses from St Peter, La Pulente, Watersplash, El Tico, L'Etacq and Jubilee Hill to come forward with any sightings or relevant CCTV, dashcam, doorbell or mobile-phone footage that might assist the investigation.
What are officials saying about the incidents?
Jersey's Chief Minister, Senator Lyndon Farnham, characterised the activity as a serious matter rather than a minor inconvenience.
To those responsible, the message is clear: if you are identified, you should expect to face the full consequences of the law,he stated, emphasising that operating a drone close to an airport was
not a prank or a harmless hobby.Farnham added that Jersey was working with UK authorities and specialist agencies on additional operational support, improved detection and counter-drone technology.
How are passengers and workers affected?
Pacific Basirwe was among those waiting for family members when Saturday's cancellations were announced. He had been expecting his wife and young son to arrive from London Heathrow when the disruption occurred.
It's annoying, this should be regulated, and the people doing those things should be prosecuted,he said.
It's been two days in a row now… If there is no further action, they will keep doing it, which is not good.
For those working at the airport, the impact extends beyond the immediate inconvenience. Richard De La Haye, who has worked as a taxi driver for more than 40 years, described the situation as particularly challenging for transport operators.
It's a bit of a nightmare because we're sitting here for a couple of hours really not knowing what's going to happen,he explained.
De La Haye outlined the difficult position faced by drivers during such disruptions:
If we pull away and the flights come in then people will be stranded waiting for taxis but if they don't come in we're sat here for two hours waiting for passengers. It's getting silly and I don't know the answer, but it really needs to be resolved, quite honestly.
What should passengers do next?
Passengers due to travel on Sunday morning have been advised to check with their airlines for flight updates before heading to the airport, as further disruptions cannot be ruled out while the investigation continues.
