Overview
- Four to five large, apparently military‑grade drones were detected inside a temporary Irish Aviation Authority exclusion zone on or near the plane’s planned path.
- The aircraft landed a few minutes early without incident, and the Irish Defence Forces later described the visit as safe and successful.
- The drones overflew the Irish Naval Service vessel LÉ William Butler Yeats, whose weapons were not used due to collateral‑damage concerns.
- A US Air Force C295 maritime patrol aircraft monitored the flights, and authorities chose not to engage the devices.
- The launch point remains unclear, with some reports pointing to the Howth area and flight durations of roughly two hours, while speculation about Russian involvement lacks public evidence.