DRONE CLOSES DUBAI AIRPORT

Airspace is closed for security reasons after unauthorised activity, causing minor delays to dozens of flights

Unmanned aircraft enters flight space, delaying 90 flights across DXB,

DUBAI // Dubai International Airport was closed to aircraft for about half an hour yesterday morning after a drone entered its airspace. Airspace was closed from 8.08am to 8.35am because of “unauthorised drone activity” and flights were delayed, Dubai Airports said.

Arrivals were the first to resume, followed by departures five minutes later. Full services resumed at 9.07am.

“We remind all operators of UAVs [ unmanned aerial vehicles] that activities are not permitted within 5 kilometres of any airport or landing area,” Dubai Airports said.

A spokesman said the closure resulted in minor delays to 90 flights across the airport.

“Emirates can confirm its flight operations from and to Dubai were disrupted today from approximately 8.10am until 9.10am Dubai time due to unauthorised drone activity, which led to the temporary closure of airspace around Dubai International Airport,” a spokeswoman for Emirates airline said.

“The disruption resulted in a number of flight delays ranging from 45 to 65 minutes.

“Emirates is making all efforts to ensure minimal disruption to passengers, and assist affected passengers.”

Dubai International Airport is one of four drone no-fly zones set up by the General Civil Aviation Authority in April after an incident last year in which a drone caused a 55-minute shutdown estimated to have cost the emirate’s economy Dh3.7 million a minute.

The other no-fly zones are Al Maktoum Airport, Al Minhad airbase and the Palm Jumeirah, around Skydive Dubai.

In June, Dubai International Airport was closed to aircraft for more than an hour after a drone incursion.

Renaud Barbier, the technical director and co-owner of Fractal Systems in Dubai, which sells drones, said the devices could cause accidents.

“Unauthorised drones could become a hazard to aircraft and airport security as they may cause airplane collisions or traffic disruption,” he said.