Drone reported near plane descending in Dublin Airport

Last night, a pilot approaching Dublin Airport reported seeing a suspected drone very close to their plane at an altitude of 3,200 feet over Dublin Bay, near Howth. The red drone was approximately 20 meters off the plane's port side, according to the Aer Lingus pilot. The incident was reported to AirNav, the organization managing Irish airspace, which promptly informed the Gardaí and other relevant authorities, as required by standard procedure.

The aviation community has expressed concern that, if confirmed to be a drone, the close proximity to the aircraft could have posed a significant safety risk. However, it has been noted that recreational drone users typically operate their devices well above permitted limits at such heights. During the exchange with Dublin's Air Traffic Control just after 6:15 PM, the pilot mentioned the drone sighting and informed another plane on the same track about the possible presence of the drone. The pilot continued with their approach, monitoring the area closely.

Later, air traffic control informed another plane about the reported sighting, suggesting an alternative approach route for the aircraft to avoid the area. The other pilot chose to divert, and it was reported that four planes subsequently followed the same route without any issues. An investigation into the incident is currently underway by the Gardaí.