ST PETER, Jersey — November 1, 2026 — Drones near Jersey Airport (JER) shut the runway to arrivals on two evenings in a row, on Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31. Flights were sent back to the UK, one was diverted to Paris, and several were cancelled. Police have not found who was flying the drones.
What happened
Friday, October 30
- The first drone report came in at about 8:20 p.m., and more were logged until about 10:30 p.m., ITV News reports.
- Three inbound flights from the UK were turned back: Loganair from Southampton, British Airways from London Heathrow and easyJet from London Gatwick.
- The easyJet flight later made it to Jersey at about 11:45 p.m., after the airport stayed open late.
Saturday, October 31
- Shortly after 8 p.m., staff reported more drone activity near the airfield. The runway was reportedly closed until about 10 p.m.
- The airport said four flights could not land as planned. An inbound charter from Madeira was diverted to Paris Charles de Gaulle.
- Loganair’s 8:30 p.m. flight from Southampton was cancelled.
- Reports differ on the evening London flights. ITV says the Heathrow, Southampton and Gatwick services were cancelled; AeroTime says the Gatwick and Heathrow flights faced long delays. ITV reports that one Gatwick group, including the Jersey RFC squad, waited about four hours before being told their flight would not go.
The official response
- The airport blamed “illegal and persistent drone activity” and said airlines were arranging other travel directly with affected passengers (AeroTime).
- Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham called the incidents deliberate and unlawful. He said the government is working with UK authorities and specialist agencies on better drone detection and counter-drone technology. No new equipment or start date has been announced: TBA.
- States of Jersey Police, Honorary Police, Channel Islands Air Search and Ports of Jersey staff searched parts of the west of the island, including St Peter, La Pulente, Watersplash, El Tico, L’Etacq and Jubilee Hill. No drone operator had been identified at the time of the latest reports.
- Police are asking anyone who sees a drone being flown to call 999, and want dashcam or CCTV footage from Friday evening.
| Night | Disruption window | Flights affected |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 30 | About 8:20 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. | Loganair (Southampton), British Airways (Heathrow), easyJet (Gatwick) turned back; easyJet landed about 11:45 p.m. |
| Sat, Oct 31 | Shortly after 8 p.m. to about 10 p.m. | Four flights unable to land as planned; Madeira charter diverted to Paris CDG; Loganair 8:30 p.m. from Southampton cancelled; London flights cancelled or long delayed |
| Sun, Nov 1 onward | TBA | No report yet |
What it means for non-revs
- Avoid the evening arrivals for now. Both nights the trouble started after 8 p.m. If you are listing for Jersey, aim for a morning or early-afternoon flight while police are still looking for the operators.
- A late flight may turn around. On Friday, flights from Heathrow, Gatwick and Southampton went back to where they started. If you are on the last flight of the day, have a plan and money for a night back in the UK.
- Do not stack tight onward connections. If you are flying Jersey–London to connect onward, a cancelled or diverted evening flight can wipe out the next day’s plans. Leave a buffer day.
- Expect fuller next-day flights. Passengers from cancelled flights get re-accommodated first, so standby seats on the following morning’s flights may be tight.
- Carry on. With diversions and cancellations, a checked bag can end up somewhere you are not.
- Check status before you leave home. No all-clear has been given and no counter-drone system is in place yet.
Sources
- ITV News — “Flights diverted back to the UK after unauthorised drone activity in Jersey” — itv.com
- ITV News — “Jersey airspace closed for second night after reported drone sighting” — itv.com
- AeroTime — “Jersey Airport hit by drone disruption for second consecutive night” — aerotime.aero
- Dronewatch Europe — “Alleged drone sightings cause two nights of disruption at Jersey Airport” — dronewatch.eu
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