A drone was reported flying near an aircraft as it descended toward Dublin Airport, according to RTE.ie. The Irish broadcaster carried the report on Sunday, 20 September 2026.
Few further details were available in the initial report. RTE.ie did not specify the distance between the drone and the plane, the type of aircraft involved, or the altitude at which the encounter was reported. It was also not immediately clear who spotted the drone or how the report was made.
The report adds to a broader pattern of drone sightings around airports that have drawn attention from aviation authorities in recent years. Aircraft on approach and departure are considered especially vulnerable to collisions with unmanned devices, and airports typically respond by suspending or altering flight operations when a drone is confirmed in the area.
Dublin Airport is the Republic of Ireland's busiest air hub, handling a large share of the country's commercial passenger traffic. Any disruption to arrivals or departures there can ripple through schedules for airlines operating across Europe and beyond.
It was not stated in the report whether flights at Dublin were delayed, diverted or otherwise affected as a result of the sighting.
What to watch next: whether airport authorities or Irish aviation regulators confirm the sighting and issue any statement on the incident.