Ryanair calls on Eamon Ryan to take action to prevent further drone disruptions at Dublin Airport

Dublin Airport. Stock image

Wayne O'Connor

Ryanair has called on Transport Minister Eamon Ryan to take action to prevent further drone disruptions at Dublin Airport after it said hundreds of passengers saw flights diverted again for a second day.

Earlier today, flight operations were suspended at Dublin Airport for about 40 minutes this afternoon after two drone sightings near the runway.

Six inbound flights were diverted because of the incident.

The runway was shut at 2.11pm, with flights delayed and disrupted while staff investigated an airspace incursion.

Flight data shows three flights from Paris, Riga and Oporto were diverted to Shannon this afternoon, with inbound and outbound flights delayed because of the temporary runway closure.

Another three inbound flights were diverted to Belfast.

Flight operations resumed just before 2.50pm, airport operator daa said.

It comes less than 24 hours after another drone was spotted near the runway. Dozens of flights to and from the airport were delayed because of yesterday’s incident.

A daa spokesman said drone sightings are taken very seriously.

“Flight operations at Dublin Airport were suspended for safety reasons this afternoon following two confirmed drone sightings on the airfield.

“It is illegal to fly drones within 5km of the airport.

“The safety and security of airport users is daa’s key priority at all times and staff at Dublin Airport and An Garda Síochána remain vigilant in relation to drone activity in the vicinity of the airport.”

He said flights resumed from the new north runway at 2.49pm. The south runway reopened six minutes later.

A spokesperson for Ryanair said: “It is unacceptable that for two days in a row, passengers and flights to/from Dublin were disrupted by apparent drone activity. Yesterday, four Ryanair aircraft and over 700 passengers had their flights diverted to Shannon and Belfast, and again today another four flights and 700 passengers were diverted with thousands more having their flights delayed.

"Such drone disruptions at Ireland’s main airport are unacceptable. We are calling on Minister Ryan to take urgent action to protect the country’s main airport from repeated disruptions from illegal drone activity.”