For the third time recently, flights had to be halted after a drone was spotted on the airfield at Dublin Airport on Monday evening.
Following the latest incident, hundreds of passengers landed at Belfast or Shannon Airports.
All flights that were in the air and coming toward the airport were informed of the problem by controllers. Flights scheduled to land in Dublin were put into holding patterns away from the airport while flights scheduled to depart were grounded while a search for the drone was conducted.
After briefly holding while Ryanair flight FR-1739 from Valencia, Spain to Dublin also decided to reroute to Belfast, the crew of TUI Airways flight BY-1171 from Gran Canaria to Dublin made the decision to do the same.
Ryanair flight FR-1617, which was bound for Dublin from Wroclaw, Poland, changed its destination to Shannon Airport, where it would refuel before heading back to Dublin.
A spokesperson for the airport’s operators, DAA, confirmed that flight operations had to be suspended for 40 minutes.
“Flight operations at Dublin Airport were once again suspended this evening (Monday) for safety reasons after a drone was spotted on the airfield,” the spokesperson said.
“Following a suspension of around 40 minutes, flight operations restarted around 19.45.”
The spokesperson said the “reckless and irresponsible behaviour” of those causing ongoing drone disruptions at Dublin Airport is “unacceptable”.
“Those found responsible will face prosecution. While safety and security remain our top priorities such disruptions cause huge inconvenience to our passengers,” the spokesperson said.
“Again, we would remind the public that it is illegal to fly drones within 5km of the airport.”
The DAA said the airport’s drone detection system, along with input from airline pilots, ground crew and air traffic control provide a “rigorous and robust” monitoring system which allows for a “safe and timely response to these incidents to allow us focus on our top priorities, safety and security”.
The airport’s flight operations have been disrupted by drone activity for the third day in a row.
A number of flights to and from the airport experienced delays as a result of similar activity that was reported on Friday and Saturday.
In order to stop further disruption, Ryanair has once again urged Transport Minister Eamon Ryan to take “immediate action.”
Four of the airline’s flights were unable to land evening due to the airport’s flight suspension, according to a spokesperson.
While one flight was diverted to Shannon Airport, three flights were diverted to Belfast.
“Thousands of passengers at Dublin Airport have encountered further disruption today due to drone activity with the airport being closed at 19:03 for a period of approximately 45 minutes,” the spokesperson said.
They said it is “unacceptable” that thousands of passengers have now faced a third day of disruptions due to apparent drone activity at the airport.
“With disruptions to flights to/from Dublin airport on Friday, Saturday and now again today, Minister Ryan has stayed silent and failed to confirm what actions are being implemented to prevent further disruption to passengers,” they said.
“We are yet again calling on Minister Ryan to confirm what action is being taken to protect the country’s main airport from repeated disruptions from illegal drone activity.”