Unauthorised drones cause delays and diversions of flights at Singapore Airport, again; 38 air transports were affected last week

Singapore: Flight operations at the busy Changi Airport, Singapore was hit due to unauthorised drone activities, days after one of its runways was shut down due to unmanned aircraft sightings, the country’s civil aviation authorities said. The Civil Aviation Authorities of Singapore (CAAS) said that approximately 15 departures and three arrivals were delayed, while seven flights were diverted on Monday.

Last week, 38 flights were affected when drones were sighted in the vicinity of the airport, forcing one of its runways to shut down. “As a precautionary measure, arrival and departure flights were carefully regulated for short periods of time between 8.07 pm and 9.07 pm,” the CAAS was quoted as saying by Channel News Asia.

One of those affected was Singapore Airlines which diverted its flight scheduled from Jakarta to Singapore on Monday night. The flight “experienced an extended holding period at Singapore Changi Airport and was subsequently diverted to Batam,” an SIA spokesperson was quoted as saying.

The CAAS said that investigations into the matter were going on and the authority will not hesitate to take enforcement action against those responsible for such acts that pose a threat to aviation and endanger security and safety of others.

Offenders could face a fine of up to USD 14,788 or a jail term of up to 12 months, the Channel News Asia report said. Singapore prohibits flying of drones within 5 kilometres of the airport without a permit.