Flights diverted after drones flown near airport

Flights were diverted and cancelled due to "unauthorised drone activity" near an airport.

Jersey Airport said three flights were diverted back to the UK because of drones flying in the airport's restricted airspace on Friday evening.

States of Jersey Police said it responded to the incident with the Honorary Police, Channel Islands Air Search, Government of Jersey colleagues and Ports of Jersey staff.

Searches were carried out across several areas in the west of the island but no drone operator has yet been identified.

Flights due to arrive from London Gatwick, London Heathrow and Southampton were diverted.

The Gatwick flight eventually arrived at around 23:45 GMT but the services from Heathrow and Southampton were cancelled.

Insp Rob McCallum from Jersey Police it was believed "two or three" drones had been in the restricted airspace, but it was not thought to be linked to terrorism.

McCallum added: "From a public safety perspective, any time there's a drone operating in restricted airspace, it poses a risk to the pilots, passengers and crew.

"It also causes significant disruption to air travel."

Police are particularly keen to hear from anyone who was in the St Peter, La Pulente, Watersplash, El Tico, L'Etacq, Jubilee Hill or surrounding areas and saw any drone activity.

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