East Midlands Airport drone warning ahead of Download Festival

An airport has warned drone pilots to steer clear of its airspace while a rock festival takes place nearby.

In 2022, drones near Download Festival at Donington Park, Leicestershire, closed East Midlands Airport's airspace at least four times.

And in 2023, "counter-drone officers" deployed by Derbyshire Police detected an amateur pilot entering the restricted airspace during a flight.

He was subsequently fined almost £1,500 by the courts.

Ahead of next month's Download, the airport has urged drones to stay away.

A spokesperson said: "The airport is reminding anyone planning to film the festival that it is illegal to fly drones close to the airport.

"This follows a successful prosecution last year when a drone was used to film the festival.

"Flying drones puts the airport operation at risk, potentially leading to passenger flights being diverted and causing delays to air cargo flights."

Passengers flying from East Midlands Airport at the same time as nearby Download have also been warned to allow extra time to travel.

Last summer the festival caused "unprecedented" congestion on major roads including the M1, A42, A50 and A453, with passengers missing flights.

Download has this year put new traffic management measures in place, but as significant traffic is expected, the airport has issued an alert.

The three-day event is expected to attract about 75,000 people from 14 to 16 June, with campsites opening from 12:00 BST on Wednesday 12 June.

Headline acts for 2024 are Queens of the Stone Age, Fall Out Boy and Avenged Sevenfold.

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