Jeju Airport on High Security Alert After Five Illegal Drone Incidents in One Week

Unidentified Drone Detected on June 14 Causes 11-Minute Suspension of All Takeoffs and Landings
Even Approved Drones Deemed Illegal if Altitude Is Violated; Operator in His 40s Apprehended
9.3-Kilometer No-Fly Zone Around Key National Facility... Aviation Law Penalties Under Scrutiny

Within the airspace of Jeju International Airport, a national key facility where drone flights are strictly prohibited, five cases of unidentified drone detections have occurred in the past week alone. On June 14, although prior flight approval had been obtained, a drone violated the permitted altitude and was properly detected by the airport's monitoring system, leading to a temporary suspension of all aircraft takeoffs and landings for 11 minutes. As the peak summer travel season approaches, there is a growing need for heightened awareness among civilian operators regarding aviation safety and strict adherence to flight regulations.

The importance of aviation safety management is being emphasized more than ever due to the temporary suspension of aircraft takeoff and landing caused by the appearance of unidentified drones in the no-fly zone near Jeju International Airport. The photo shows a Korean airline passenger plane safely attempting to land on the runway of Jeju International Airport in Jeju City. (The photo is a stock image not directly related to specific facts of the article.) (Photo by Changwon Park)

According to Jeju Airport of Korea Airports Corporation on June 15, there were a total of five cases in the past week where unidentified drones were detected within the 9.3-kilometer no-fly zone radius of Jeju International Airport.

In fact, at around 4:40 p.m. on June 14, an unidentified drone was detected in the airspace above the airport, prompting a complete suspension of takeoffs and landings on the airport's runway from 4:42 p.m. to 4:53 p.m., lasting about 11 minutes, to ensure aircraft safety.

A joint military and police search team was immediately dispatched and apprehended a man in his 40s, referred to as Mr. A, who was operating the drone near the Oedo Sports Field at around 4:46 p.m. An investigation revealed that although Mr. A had received prior flight authorization, he flew the drone above the permitted altitude, resulting in the airport detection system identifying it as an "unauthorized drone" and triggering the airport shutdown.

Currently, the area within a 9.3-kilometer radius of Jeju International Airport is a legally designated no-fly zone for all drone operations without prior approval from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Aviation Administration, in order to ensure the safe operation of aircraft.

Under the Aviation Safety Act, flying a drone in this zone without approval can result in a fine of up to 3 million won. In cases like the recent incident, where there are serious violations of altitude or interference with flight paths, criminal liability may also be imposed. The airport control tower explained that runways are not automatically closed upon drone detection, but the decision to suspend operations is made after comprehensively considering the drone's position and altitude. However, as attempts to fly drones increase during holidays and peak seasons, thorough management and supervision are now more important than ever.

The recent series of drone detections and temporary runway closures at Jeju Airport highlight the urgent need for greater awareness among civilian operators regarding aviation safety and the importance of complying with flight regulations near airports, especially ahead of the busy summer season.

In particular, experts and the media point out that even legally authorized drones can trigger a complete suspension of airport operations due to minor deviations in altitude. Therefore, instead of relying solely on punitive measures against individual operators after violations occur, they stress the need for institutional safety improvements, such as mandating the application of airport-adjacent altitude restriction systems (geofencing) at the drone manufacturing and approval stages.

A representative from Jeju Airport stated, "Given the extensive area designated as a drone no-fly zone, we do not automatically close runways whenever a drone is detected; rather, the control tower makes a comprehensive judgment with public safety as the top priority." The official added, "Reckless drone flights near the airport could lead to disasters involving aircraft carrying hundreds of passengers, so voluntary compliance with regulations is absolutely essential."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.