Unauthorised drone activity causes disruption at Gibraltar airport

Drones spotted in the area of the airfield on Saturday night delayed an outbound easyJet flight from Gibraltar and forced an RAF plane to be diverted to Portugal as a safety precaution.

The latest incident is the third time this year that flights to and from Gibraltar have been disrupted due to unauthorised drone activity in the vicinity of the runway, and the second time in just over a month.

“A drone which presented a potential risk to an incoming aircraft was sighted at approximately 20.48 [on Saturday] by staff at RAF Gibraltar,” a spokesperson for HQ British Forces, which operates the runway, said.

“While the aircraft was holding, six further sightings were reported and the incoming flight elected to divert.”

“The easyJet flight departure was delayed until the airfield had been declared safe.”

Last month, two easyJet flighs were delyed leaving Gibraltar after drones were spotted near the runway, and a Bristol flight was disrupted in January for the same reason.

Under Gibraltar law, it is an offence to fly a drone without permission from the Director of Civil Aviation.

The drones impacting Gibraltar airport are believed to be linked to smuggling activity in neighbouring Spain.

But the incidents come against international concern about drone activity near military bases including some used by US forces in the UK.

Likewise other countries across Europe have also experienced disruption, with speculation Russia could be behind some of the incidents.

Last month UK Defence Secretary John Healey announced new powers to allow the military to shoot down drones around bases in the UK mainland.

The new powers to protect military bases will be included in the Armed Forces Bill, with Mr Healey pledging to “do what’s needed to defend the British people”.