Around 100 airlines
fly to more than 260 destinations from Dubai, which is also home to
major carrier Emirates
(AFP/File)
A drone forced Dubai
international airport, one of the world's busiest, to halt air
traffic for an hour and a half Saturday evening, the third such
incident in less than five months.
Air space around the
airport was closed from 7:25 pm to 8:49 pm (1525-1649 GMT) "due
to unauthorised drone activity resulting in flight diversions",
said operator Dubai Airports.
The General Civil
Aviation Authority said the airport at Sharjah, about 15 kilometres
(nine miles) away, was closed for a similar period of time as a
precaution because of the same drone.
Dubai Airports
stressed in a tweet that safety was its top priority and reminded
drone operators that it is forbidden to fly them within five
kilometres (three miles) of any airport.
On September 28 the
airport was shut for about half an hour because of an unauthorised
drone while on June 12 it was forced to close for more than an hour
for the same reason.
UAE authorities have
announced their intention to tighten the rules on the purchase and
use of drones and the penalties for violating them.
Around 100 airlines
fly to more than 260 destinations from Dubai, which is also home to
major carrier Emirates.
More than 78 million
passengers travelled through the airport last year.
Drone halts traffic at Dubai airport, third incident in five months
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