Drones Shut Jersey Airport's Runway Two Nights Running

This scan turned up one report that clears our bar: two nights in a row of drone activity near Jersey Airport in the Channel Islands. Flights were diverted and cancelled, and police are still looking for whoever flew them. Most other "new" items making the rounds were either recycled stories or single anonymous posts with nothing to back them up.

Jersey Airport: drones close the runway two nights running

What was reported: On the evening of Friday, October 30, multiple drone sightings near Jersey Airport led to three inbound flights being diverted back to the UK. The Jersey Evening Post reports the first sighting came in at about 8:20pm local time, with drone activity reported until about 10:30pm. One diverted aircraft eventually landed at about 11:45pm, and the airport stayed open late to take it.

Second night: Shortly after 8pm on Saturday, October 31, airport staff reported "further drone activity in the vicinity of the airfield," according to ITV News. The runway was believed to be closed until about 10pm. An inbound charter from Madeira was reportedly diverted to Paris, and services from Heathrow, Gatwick and Southampton were cancelled.

Response: States of Jersey Police, the Honorary Police, Channel Islands Air Search and Ports of Jersey staff searched areas in the west of the island. Police asked for witnesses and dashcam, doorbell or phone footage from St Peter, La Pulente, L'Etacq, Jubilee Hill and nearby areas. Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham said the government is treating the incidents with "utmost seriousness" and is working with UK authorities on detection and counter-drone support.

Rating: Strong. This comes from official sources: airport operations, a police investigation, and a statement from the island's government.

Likely ordinary explanation: Authorities are treating these as drones flown illegally by someone on the ground, and they are looking for the operator. No operator had been identified at the time of reporting, and no public description of the objects has been released. "Unidentified" here means the operator is unknown, not the type of object.

Saw something yourself?

If you spotted a strange light or object, run it through our Is It a UFO? checker to rule out satellites, planets and aircraft first. Steady footage makes a big difference to anyone reviewing a report later, so a phone tripod is worth keeping in the car. In Jersey, report drone sightings to police on 612612 and quote reference M07922/2026.

Sources: Jersey Evening Post, Oct 31, 2026; ITV News Channel, Oct 31, 2026.