Incheon: The number of unauthorized drones detected in the airspace surrounding Incheon International Airport, the main gateway located west of Seoul, has dropped significantly this year, data showed Sunday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, data released by Incheon International Airport Corp. indicates that eight illegal drone flights without prior approval from authorities were detected within the airport’s controlled airspace of a 9.3-kilometer radius between January and September.
During the same nine-month period last year, 24 unauthorized drone flights were detected, while 74 cases were reported two years ago. In 2022, the number reached 119 in the cited period.
The airport operator attributed the decline to the enforcement of the revised Aviation Safety Act, which increased the maximum fine for illegal drone operations and continued public awareness campaigns and stronger notices about drone no-fly zones.