Transport Minister Eamon Ryan has slammed drone pilots that have caused three days of disruptions at Dublin Airport and warned they are "taking huge risks with their own liberty".
Flights were diverted and delayed for a third time at Dublin Airport yesterday after a confirmed sighting of a drone. If a plane's engine is hit by a drone, it can have catastrophic effects including the engine exploding.
For this reason, it is illegal to fly drones within 5km of Dublin Airport. Transport Minister Eamon Ryan told reporters on his way into a Cabinet meeting that his department has been meeting with the airport to come up with solutions.
Read more: Drones stop flights in and out of Dublin Airport again
He said: "It is against the law and it is causing huge disruptions. And whatever means of supporting the airport, we're going to have to make sure they are not disrupting flights.
"We are sitting down with the airport and looking at the different mechanisms. It is very hard to do with the scale of the airport and the size of a drone.
He added: "But the gardai also have a particular role and anyone doing this is subject to arrest and that is the best way of stopping it. People are taking huge risks with their own liberty.
"The people doing it have to be aware that it is highly illegal and that they are subject to the guards coming down, in my mind, heavy because it creates huge disruption and real safety issues."
A garda spokeswoman told Dublin Live an investigation has been launched. She said: "Gardai in Dublin Airport were alerted to a call shortly after 7p.m. on Monday 6th February, 2023 to a confirmed sighting of a drone at Dublin Airport.
"Gardai conducted a search of the area and the matter is being fully investigated."
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