‘Dangerous flying’ incident under Police investigation

Monday 20 May 2019

Police are investigating a private aircraft believed to have risked life and property in an alleged ‘dangerous flying’ incident last year, Express has learned.

At the centre of the probe is a flight involving a non-commercial plane that took place on 16 November last year.

The Director of Civil Aviation, Dominic Lazarus, who has overall responsibility for ensuring safety in Jersey and Guernsey’s airspace, was first alerted to the incident.

Eight days later on 28 November, it was then referred to Police, who launched a probe now entering its seventh month.

Pictured: Director of Civil Aviation Dominic Lazarus.

Neither Police nor Ports of Jersey would confirm the exact circumstances of the incident, which was described by the DCA as “serious”.

However, the Police did confirm that the aircraft involved was suspected of five potential offences relating to the Air Navigation (Jersey) Law 2014. 

The alleged law breaches include: 

• Endangering safety of aircraft: A person shall not recklessly or negligently act in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft, or any person in the aircraft. 
• Endangering safety of any person or property: A person shall not recklessly or negligently cause or permit an aircraft to endanger any person or property.
• Failing to comply with official directions 
• Conducting an approach and landing when the visibility or relevant runway visual range is less than that specified for a Category 1 operation (a precision approach and landing with a decision height not lower than 200 feet and with either a visibility not less than 800 metres or a runway visual range not less than 550 metres).
• Descending from a height of 1,000 feet or more above the aerodrome to a height less than 1,000 feet above the aerodrome if the reported visibility or relevant runway visual range at the aerodrome is at the time less than the specified minimum for landing.

Mr Lazarus referenced the incident briefly in his annual report, which was presented to the States Assembly last week.

He wrote: “We are enforcing our legislation, which is necessary if we are to continue to be considered a quality aviation jurisdiction. Since I took office, we have had numerous minor incidents, and one serious incident, which was reported to the Police and is under investigation.”

A Police spokesperson told Express that this is the only aviation incident reported over the past two years involving an aircraft rather than a drone.