Flights are grounded as police search for drone user

FLIGHTS HAD to be temporarily suspended and a police helicopter deployed at Leeds Bradford Airport as officers responded to a remote-controlled drone.

Air traffic control alerted police based at the airport to the unmanned aircraft being flown in and around the airfield, and the helicopter was deployed to the area to help officers on the ground who were searching the area to try and find out who was flying the drone.

Officials tracked the device heading to the Eccup area and the helicopter was sent to search that area, but was unable to find the drone. Aircraft were grounded during the search, but normal services were able to resume a short time later.

Inspector Andy Loftus, from West Yorkshire Police, said: “We are continuing to carry out enquiries in an effort to identify who was flying this drone, and we would like to hear from anyone with any information that could assist the investigation.

“These remote-controlled aircraft normally have a fairly limited range and battery life so it’s likely the person involved was somewhere in the wider area around the airport and we want to speak to anyone who thinks they may have seen them.

“Clearly the airport is controlled airspace and any unauthorised flying in that area presents obvious risks.

“We appreciate that radio-controlled drones are increasingly popular and we don’t want to detract from the pleasure people get from flying them but we hope this incident will help to serve as a warning to people of the potentially serious consequences of using them in areas where it is not safe.”

Details of the incident, which happened at about 1pm on Saturday last weekend, emerged yesterday. Leeds Bradford Airport said the incident was “concluded swiftly, with minimal disruption”.

A spokesperson for the airport said: “We would like to reiterate that flying drones in the controlled airspace around LBA is prohibited.”