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Drones disrupt flights near East Midlands Airport in the UK

The alleged drone incidents took place over the weekend during the Download music festival at a nearby park. Supposedly three drones disrupted flights at the East Midlands airport. An investigation has been launched by detectives and one drone pilot has since been interviewed. We know from previous drone incidents that very often no proof of an actual drone has been provided, causing many industry insiders, including DJI, to warn people not to jump to conclusions. In this case, one drone pilot has bee interviewed. We will follow it closely to see if any drone evidence will surface.

Drones disrupt flights near East Midlands Airport

One drone pilot has been interviewed by the Leicestershire police after the drone incident was reported at 9:30 AM last Saturday. The incident took place close to the Download music festival at Donington Park.

Two more drone incidents were reported inside the restricted airspace at East Midlands Airport. One occurred around midnight on Saturday and the other one on Sunday at 1:30 PM, according to The Guardian. Flights at the airport were delayed as a result of these drone incidents

Working together with the Civil Aviation Authority and East Midlands Airport, the police carried out inquiries. One drone pilot has since been interviewed. However, the pilots of the other two drone incidents have not yet been identified by the police.

“We are aware of three incidents where an unmanned aerial vehicle has been flown in restricted airspace near to the Download festival at Donington Park, Castle Donington,” a spokeswoman for Leicestershire police said. She added: “Due to the incidents taking place in close proximity to East Midlands airport a number of flights were temporarily delayed as a result of each report.”

“A TUI flight bound for Larnaca and a Ryanair flight to Pisa experienced minor delays departing EMA on Sunday due to the sighting of an unmanned aerial vehicle over the Download festival site,” a spokesperson for the East Midlands airport said.

Contrary to drone incidents at Gatwick, Heathrow, and Newark airport at least, in this case, one drone pilot was actually interviewed. We will follow this news and report on any new information it may become available.

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Avatar for Haye Kesteloo Haye Kesteloo

Haye Kesteloo is the Editor in Chief and Main Writer at DroneDJ, where he covers all drone related news and writes product reviews. He also contributes to the other sites in the 9to5Mac group such as; 9to5Mac, 9to5Google, 9to5Toys and Electrek. Haye can be reached at haye@dronedj.com or @hayekesteloo