Over the course of more than a month, the police scrutinized over 10 hours of closed-circuit television footage from nearby locations. Unfortunately, no drone or suspected drone was identified during this extensive analysis. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
JEJU, May 23 (Korea Bizwire) —The investigation into the incident that disrupted flight operations at Jeju International Airport, a critical national facility, will be concluded without a definitive determination of whether it involved a bird or a drone.
The Jeju West Police Station announced their decision due to insufficient evidence to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident. On April 17, a suspected drone object was sighted near Jeju Airport, prompting a 15-minute suspension of aircraft takeoffs and landings.
The airport’s Urban Drone Detection Radar detected the object, which flew over the runway before returning towards the Jeju Sewage Treatment Plant. However, there was uncertainty as to whether the radar reacted to a drone or a large bird, leading to a police investigation.
Despite analyzing over 10 hours of CCTV footage, no drone or suspected drone was found.
The police identified a flock of birds in the footage, but could not confirm if they were detected by the radar. In response to security breaches, including the incident at Jeju Airport, the Korea Airports Authority held a meeting to strengthen aviation security measures.
They discussed preventive measures against illegal drone flights within the airport control area, involving various stakeholders such as drone associations and educational institutions. Their goal is to enhance aviation safety through collaborative efforts.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
