Drone causes chaos in Dubai

Drone causes chaos in Dubai

A total of 21 flights into Dubai International Airport had to be diverted away for more than an hour during a busy weekend in June after an unmanned drone was flown into their airspace.

Fourteen of the planes were sent to Al Maktoum aiport in Jebel Ali, four to Sharjah and three to El Ain.

The Airport was one of four drone no-fly zones set up the General Civil Aviation Authority after a similar incident in April 2015, which was estimated to have cost the emirate’s economy Dh3.5 million a minute.

“We are working with Dubai Police, the airport and the relevant authorities in the investigations on the breach of the no-fly zone,” GCAA chief Saif Al Suwaidi said after Saturday afternoon’s incident.

“What happened was a breach of the regulations … and a nuisance that disrupted air travel in Dubai.”

All the diverted Emirates flights subsequently returned to Dubai International Airport after the airspace reopened.

http://www.thenational.ae/uae/transport/drone-causes-69-minute-closure-at-dubai-airport