Civilian videographer triggers drone intrusion alert at Ben-Gurion Airport

Jerusalem Post/Israel NewsShortly before noon, a Ben-Gurion Airport control room employee detected a drone in their airspace and activated security protocols. Airport police were tasked with locating the drone's operator. Follow us on GoogleA British Airways flight at Ben-Gurion Airport, February 25, 2026.(photo credit: YOSSI ALONI/FLASH90)ByMAYA ZANGER-SHAMIRAUGUST 11, 2026 19:15Ben-Gurion Airport officials identified an unauthorized civilian drone approaching the airport on Tuesday morning, according to the Israel Airports Authority.Shortly before noon, a Ben-Gurion Airport control room employee detected a drone in their airspace and activated security protocols. Airport police were tasked with locating the drone's operator. Within less than an hour of the initial identification of the drone, the operator was found and interrogated. The drone was being used to film promotional video clips for a construction company.Ben-Gurion Airport operations disrupted by civilian drone intrusion, takeoffs and landings haltedA similar event occured on August 5, when Israel's N12 News reported that flights at Ben-Gurion Airport were disrupted after a civilian drone entered its airspace.Takeoffs and landings were halted during the incident, according to the report, which occured during peak hours.Drone equipment seen after its owner flew the drone near Ben-Gurion Airport on August 11, 2026, triggering drone intrusion alerts. (credit: ISRAEL AIRPORTS AUTHORITY)Transportation Ministry Director-General Moshe Ben Zaken began an investigation following the incident, N12 added.The incident followed a July 23 N12 report regarding a potential complete civilian drone ban in all of Israel's airspace.The consideration of a total ban is due to the lack of effective counter-drone technologies in the country, N12 reported, with concerns that an Iranian or Hezbollah attack would involve an increased use of drones.Follow us on Google