Sharjah flights disrupted by drone activity

OPERATIONS HIT FOR JUST AN HOUR AS PLANES WERE DIVERTED TO RAK

Several flights bound for Sharjah were diverted to Ras Al Khaimah yesterday morning due to suspected drone activity.

The disruption only lasted an hour, according to Sharjah Civil Aviation, and flights that had landed in Ras Al Khaimah departed for Sharjah soon after with the diversions having taken place between 7am and 9am. A statement from Sharjah Civil Aviation Authority, said: “Sharjah control tower was informed of the presence of a drone near Sharjah International Airport on Thursday, November 28, 2019.

“The Department of Sharjah Civil Aviation suspended air operations in accordance with the regulations of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority. After ensuring that the air space is obstacle free, air traffic was back to normal after one hour.”

A spokesperson from Air Arabia told Gulf News: “Due to suspected drone activity, a few Air Arabia flights were diverted from Sharjah International Airport this morning to Ras Al Khaimah International Airport. The operations were fine on anyone flying a drone without licence in UAE restored to normal shortly afterwards.”

One passenger tweeted: “Pilot said #Sharjah airport airspace has just reopened after drone activity. He said eight flights were diverted to Ras al-Khaimah — don’t know about other Emirates.”

Anyone found operating a drone without a licence in the UAE or any restricted airspace can be jailed and slapped with fines of up to Dh100,000.