On September 11th, due to public safety concerns caused by drones, there was a significant delay in flights at Tianjin Binhai Airport, affecting over 3,000 passengers. The airport issued a statement citing the impact of drones on flight operations, leading to 29 delayed flights, 8 cancellations, and 32 flights diverted to other airports, affecting more than 3,000 travelers.
The incident began around 7:40 pm on the 11th when all inbound and outbound flights were halted at Tianjin Binhai Airport. Reports started surfacing around 8 pm of widespread flight disruptions attributed to drones interfering with airport operations. Passengers who had already boarded their flights were unable to take off on time and had to return to the airport to wait.
By around 11 pm, the airport confirmed that drone activity had led to the public safety issue, causing delays and cancellations. The situation sparked widespread public attention and discussions on social media platforms.
According to the Red Star News, a passenger named Li was flying back to Tianjin from Urumqi on the 11th afternoon, expecting to land at Tianjin Binhai International Airport around 9 pm. However, shortly before landing, the crew informed passengers that the plane would divert to Beijing Daxing Airport due to the inability to land in Tianjin, leading to further delays and inconvenience for travelers.
Another passenger, Wei, was supposed to fly from Chongqing to Tianjin on the evening of the 11th. However, during the taxiing process on the runway, the crew announced that the plane would return to the gate in Chongqing due to the landing restrictions at Tianjin Airport.
Reports from the Xiaoxiang Morning Post indicated that several affected passengers claimed they did not receive proper accommodations that evening. Flight information apps like Hantavel and Fliggy also reflected extensive delays for inbound and outbound flights at Tianjin Binhai Airport starting from 8 pm on the 11th.
Departure information showed numerous flights by airlines such as Air China, Sichuan Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines experiencing delays, cancellations, and premature cancellations.
As reported by China News Weekly, unauthorized drone flights pose a significant threat to civil aviation safety. The presence of drones in aircraft flight paths during takeoff and landing poses a serious risk of collision due to their low altitude and visibility challenges for radar detections, potentially resulting in severe consequences.
In response to the compensation and punishments for drone operators, legal expert Fu Jian emphasized that affected passengers could seek compensation from airlines for losses incurred, including accommodation and transportation costs. Passengers with flight delay insurance can file claims with insurance companies.
According to temporary regulations for unmanned aerial vehicle operations, flying drones without permission in controlled airport zones can lead to fines or confiscation of the drone. Individuals operating drones that cause significant disruptions or safety hazards may face criminal charges and civil liability for economic losses.
On September 12th, Tianjin Binhai Airport announced the resumption of normal flight operations after the earlier disruptions caused by drone activity.