“Drones causing disruptions at airports is a statewide issue that needs to be tackled with new legislation, a State agency responsible for managing counter drone technology and harsher sentences,” according to a tweet from DAA, the company that runs Dublin Airport in Ireland. The remark came after the airport suspended flight operations on March 2 for 30 minutes as a result of drone activity in the area.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has suggested the airport be given the powers itself to take down drones that threaten business continuity.
“This is completely unacceptable,” he told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland programme. “Dublin Airport is the only major EU airport that for six times in the last six weeks has been shut by illegal drone activity,” he told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland programme. About 20,000 people had been affected by the disruption, he said. “The solution to this is reasonably easy….we don’t want 15-year jail sentences. We want Dublin Airport to have the power to disable drones.
“Most European Airports, Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, Schiphol, all have anti-drone technology. It’s not expensive. It costs about USD100,000 and it is operated by airport police.”
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Drones causing disruptions at airports and events is a state wide issue that needs to be tackled with new legislation, a State agency responsible for managing counter drone technology and harsher sentences. pic.twitter.com/3m1DmM0pQa
— Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) March 2, 2023
https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22220204/
