LSAP MP Mars di Bartolomeo submitted a parliamentary question on the issue to Minister of Mobility Francois Bausch on whether the airport in Findel has had to deal with similar incidents. Bausch confirmed that two drones had indeed been sighted near the airport's boundaries in the last four years.
One of those drones nearly brushed an incoming Luxair aircraft during its landing five kilometres away from the airport. This incident occurred on 14 April 2015 and at an altitude of 700 metres.
The police were unable to identify and suspend the drone pilot. There have been further sightings of drones in proximity to flights over the last few years.
In terms of the threat that these aerial vehicles could pose to the security of passengers, Bausch conceded that developing and installing a system to detect and neutralise these drones is an incredibly complex process.
Drones are often too small to be detected by air traffic radars, as only military equipment has the sensitivity required to locate them.
