On Tuesday, June 9, in the evening, due to airspace closure, two planes heading to Riga were redirected to Tallinn Airport, reports LSM.
On Tuesday evening, two planes were already approaching Riga – a Ryanair flight from Oslo and a national airline airBaltic flight from Catania. When the planes had already begun their descent, passengers were informed that they were heading to Tallinn, one passenger from the Catania flight reported.
According to her, she contacted her mother, who called Riga Airport. They advised her to contact airBaltic directly.
The passenger also mentioned that in Tallinn, the plane was refueled, after which the crew announced that the airport in Riga was open again and the plane would depart for the Latvian capital.
The reason for this decision was explained by a representative of Latvijas gaisa satiksme, Arnis Lapinš:
"Both aircraft were directed to Tallinn Airport due to a report from the pilot of one of the planes about a supposedly spotted drone over the Spilve airfield. In accordance with established procedures, air traffic at Riga Airport was temporarily suspended and then resumed. It should be added that the information about the drone was not confirmed, meaning its presence was not established."
Air traffic in the area of Riga Airport was suspended for about half an hour.
