Search in Jersey for drone pilots who disrupted airport flying

Monday, 2 November 2026 at 09:40

Commercial aircraft had to be turned back both on Friday and Saturday evenings because of drones being flown near Jersey airport.

The effort continues today to find those responsible for illegally flying drones near Jersey Airport, which caused flight chaos over the weekend.

Jersey Police are asking islanders to be their 'eyes and ears.'

Flights into the island from the UK and Madeira were turned back or cancelled on both Friday and Saturday evenings.

Chief Minister senator Lyndon Farnham says the matter is being taken very seriously:

"Operating a drone close to an airport is not a prank or a harmless hobby.

"It puts public safety at risk, disrupts critical transport infrastructure and can have significant consequences for hundreds of travellers and businesses.

"To those responsible, the message is clear: if you are identified, you should expect to face the full consequences of the law."

Elliot Cockett heads up a Guernsey drone production agency TDR:

"Normally, this sort of case is just one drone that's been spotted somewhere and then it's a bit of a witch hunt, whereas this is multiple drones, so it makes you wonder whether it's co-ordinated or just really bad timing.

"As far as I'm aware in Guernsey and Jersey, there isn't a drone registration scheme. In the UK, there is.

"You have to register your drone(s) and print that registration and put it on the side of your drone, much like an aircraft registration.

"I think that's a great idea, but in cases like what we've had over the weekend, it doesn't really help because, yeah you can zoom in with your phone camera, but you may not get a clear picture of the reg of that drone."