Drone shuts base

Operations at Whenuapai air base were suspended for about 30 minutes yesterday after a close call between a drone and an air force helicopter. A Defence Force spokesman said it happened just before 11am, when the Seasprite helicopter approaching Whenuapai reported a drone just 60m below it. The drone was above Browns Bay on Auckland’s North Shore. A week ago, seven flights had their landings delayed after a drone was sighted in the Auckland Airport airspace. The Civil Aviation Authority will investigate both incidents.