New Jersey, U.S.A's Newark Liberty International Airport has resumed operations following flight interruptions on Tuesday night due to drone sightings in the area.
Incoming flights reported a drone sighting at around 5 p.m. that forced the airport to shut down. The Federal Aviation Administration said the drone was located "about 3,500 feet above Teterboro, New Jersey."
A spokesperson for the FAA said in a statement, "At that point, flights arriving into Newark were held for a short duration. With no further drone sightings, arrivals resumed," USA Today reported.
Some incoming flights were spotted making rounds in the air before making a landing while a couple of outbound flights saw delays intake off. On the tarmac, over a dozen planes were stopped by security to avoid unforeseen accidents.
The delay lasted for about 55 minutes as the airport's official Twitter page informed passengers about the drone sighting, adding that the security team is coordinating with federal law enforcement authorities to investigate the incident.
In U.S. law, a drone flying within five miles of an airport is supposed to contact its control tower to ensure that there won't be disruptions. An altitude of 400 feet is the restricting limit for amateur drone flights.
The drone scare has since sparked talk online regarding passenger security and safety. Some passengers and concerned citizens expressed fears over potential dangers that restricted drones could bring to the community.
This is not the first time flights were interrupted. Three weeks earlier, drone sightings were reported at London's Gatwick Airport. The incident resulted in the cancelation of over hundred-holiday flights.
CBS New York noted that authorities are starting to get bothered by the drone sightings. Aside from passengers complaining about delayed flights, the main issue that experts are concerned with is public safety.
A recent study revealed how serious of damage collisions between drones and planes could bring, sparking further talks about what authorities can do to avoid collisions from happening.
Thor Kongvold, one of the passengers who arrived from Norway at the Newark Liberty International Airport expressed his frustration over the flight disruptions. "They shouldn't be flying near an airport, period. If they do and they get caught, they've got to pay the consequences," he said.
As if echoing Kongvold's sentiments, the FAA is joining hands with law enforcement agencies to try to reach the people responsible for the drone sighting.
Some sources revealed that a person caught to be flying drones near airports and other restricted areas can be charged criminally and could be fined by up to $15,000.
