Authorities investigate possible airspace violation after drone found

Authorities are investigating a possible airspace violation after a drone was found near the shore in the Pellinki archipelago in Porvoo, Yle reports. The unmanned aircraft was discovered by fisherman Peter Kellgren in the coastal waters of Sandö island on Tuesday afternoon.

“It was on the open-sea side. I suspect it had floated ashore from somewhere else, but the authorities will investigate that,” Kellgren said.

The Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday that a citizen had reported the drone in the Pellinki archipelago. Officials did not initially specify the exact location.

Kellgren said the drone was about 1.5 metres long. The shoreline was rocky, and he could not reach the aircraft.

“I got perhaps 50 metres from it, but I could see it clearly. It was maybe a metre and a half long,” he said.

The Border Guard is investigating the case in cooperation with the police and the Defence Forces. An official investigation into a possible airspace violation has been opened, but it remains only a suspicion.

Officials do not suspect that the drone was carrying explosives, and they said it posed no danger to bystanders.

Yle visited the area by boat on Wednesday. Its reporter saw no signs of official activity at the location.

Residents noticed Coast Guard activity

Aarne Koskimies, who was bringing his boat to winter storage with his son, said they saw a Coast Guard boat travelling at high speed in the archipelago.

“It did startle me a little that it was so close to us. But I did not feel particularly worried. When you immediately saw that action had been taken, you felt that things were under control, hopefully,” Koskimies said.

Janna Kukkola, who lives in Epoo in Porvoo, said the discovery had also made her think. She said drones had been seen in the area from time to time and that airspace restrictions had been in place as recently as Tuesday.

“When this came almost right next door, it does make you think about it a little more,” Kukkola said.