A drone disrupts a large US airport

Flights were stalled at the Newark International Airport in the US state of New Jersey after two drones were spotted flying nearby.

A pilot told air traffic control that one of the drones had approached within 9 meters of his plane.

It was flying at Teterboro Airport, a nearby private facility, but authorities blocked Newark's international flights as a precaution.

The airport is the 11th busiest in the United States, with 20 million pbadengers a year.

The incident follows major disturbances during the Christmas season at Gatwick Airport in London, where sightings of unmanned aerial vehicles immobilized hundreds of flights over three days.

Speaking about Tuesday's drone alert in New Jersey, the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) said in a statement: "Around 5 pm, we received two reports of flights to Newark. that a drone was sighted approximately 3,500 feet above Teterboro, New Jersey.

"At this point, the flights arriving in Newark have been held for a short time. Since then, and with no new sightings of drones, arrivals have resumed.

"However, we still have a ground call at other airports from Newark until the backlog of arrivals can be eliminated. We hope it will soon be over. "