Jersey Airport just got grounded by drones for a second night running

So Jersey's only airport has now been hit two nights running. And the island's own Chief Minister is calling it deliberate. Not an accident.

Here's how it started. States of Jersey Police got their first report of a drone at around 8.20pm the evening before. The activity went on for about two hours, until around 10.30pm. In that time, three flights got caught up in it — one due from London Gatwick, one from London Heathrow, one from Southampton. All three were diverted back to the UK.

The Gatwick flight, reportedly flown by easyJet, landed at Jersey later that night, at about 11.45pm. The other two never made it. Both cancelled.

Inspector Rob McCallum, from Jersey Police, says two or three drones were in the restricted airspace.

So this wasn't one stray drone. It was several. Over more than two hours.

And the response was big. Jersey Police, the Honorary Police, Channel Islands Air Search, the Government of Jersey and Ports of Jersey staff all got involved. They searched the west of the island. Nobody was found.

Then the next evening happened. And it was the same thing again.

Drones were seen in Jersey airspace once more. Flights from Southampton, Gatwick and Heathrow were all affected. One flight, coming in from Madeira at 8pm, got diverted all the way to Paris instead.

Here's what's different this time, though. The Chief Minister has stepped in himself.

Senator Lyndon Farnham says quote "the deliberate and unlawful operation of drones in the vicinity of Jersey Airport" has caused significant disruption to passengers, airlines and airport operations.

He says flying a drone near an airport isn't a prank. It isn't a harmless hobby either. He says it puts public safety at risk and disrupts transport that the whole island depends on. And he says whoever is responsible should expect to face the full force of the law once they're found.

So what happens now? Jersey is bringing in the big guns. It's working closely with UK authorities and specialist agencies. The goal is more operational support, better detection, and counter-drone technology — the same kind of kit used to protect airports and military sites on the British mainland. Now it's coming to a small island airport that has never needed it before.

But one thing hasn't changed since the first night. Inspector Rob McCallum says police still don't believe this is linked to terrorism.

So who is doing this? And why? Nobody has said.

Farnham says the airport remains safe, and that lessons from both nights will be acted on quickly. Police are asking anyone who sees someone they believe is flying a drone right now to call 999, and not to go near them.

Two nights down. One island airport disrupted both times. And still no idea who is behind it.