Chennai: The Chennai airport authorities on Sunday detained and offloaded two foreign nationals for carrying Drones.
According to the sources, A Norway national Identified as Martin Aakre, 41 arrived India on a tourist visa two weeks ago.
On Sunday night, he arrived at Chennai airport to board an Indigo Airlines to Thailand .when he was Intercepted at the
customs desk, a search into his baggage was conducted even though he attempted to leave via the green-channel.
During the search, the officials found a Drone in his luggage. When questioned about the Drone he claimed himself to be a
photojournalist and said that he travelled across six states in the country and no officials had
questioned him.
However, the officials seized the drone and offloaded him. Similarly, Vemoevenkai, 40 from Belgium who was in India on a tourist
Visa arrived at Chennai airport to fly Abu Dhabi in Etihad Airlines.
During the customs check, he was also found carrying a drone. He too was offloaded and the drone was seized.
Both the foreign nationals were handed over to the airport police. Airport sources said, they had to obtain
permission from the Civil Aviation ministry in Delhi and also seek approval from the local airforce base
and airport ATC.
For operating drones, which are unmanned aircraft system, entities have to obtain a Unique Identification Number (UIN) from aviation
regulator DGCA.
Besides, there should be an Unmanned Aircraft Operator Permit (AOP) for commercial drone operations and for each flight, permission has to be taken through the proposed digital sky platform.When civilian drones take to skies under the new regulations, foreigners will not be piloting them as they have been barred from operating remotely piloted aircraft in the country.
