What happened
On August 12, 2015, an unauthorized unmanned aircraft (UAV) flight was reported within the controlled zone (CTR) of Warsaw Chopin Airport (EPWA). The drone operations were observed in the Ursus district, specifically near Plac Czerwca 1976. Due to the presence of the UAV in the controlled airspace, air traffic controllers were forced to alter standard procedures. To mitigate the risk of a mid-air collision, several aircraft departures were redirected to an alternative runway, deviating from the standard takeoff configuration.
Once air traffic services confirmed that the drone operations had concluded, the standard runway configuration was restored for regular operations.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation focused on the unauthorized entry of the unmanned aircraft into the controlled airspace. Following the report, local police were dispatched to the location of the incident, where they successfully identified the operator of the UAV.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the operator's lack of awareness regarding the regulations and rules governing the use of unmanned aircraft within controlled airspace.