Eagles Set for Conference League Journey to Cyprus Following Drone Incident

Crystal Palace is preparing to head to Cyprus to compete against AEK Larnaca in the second leg of their last-16 matchup on March 19.

Concerns Arise Due to Drone Strike

Recent incidents have sparked worries about the upcoming game following a drone strike that impacted an RAF base in Akrotiri, Cyprus, on Sunday.

On Monday, two more drones targeting the military installation were intercepted, and an alert was issued at Paphos Airport when a suspected drone was detected in the vicinity.

Previous Encounter in the Conference League

Crystal Palace and AEK Larnaca faced off during the group stage of the Conference League back in October.

Flight Disruptions Due to Security Threats

In response to the escalating situation, EasyJet canceled all flights to and from Cyprus on Monday, although services have since resumed.

Details of the Drone Attack

The drone attack on the RAF base was linked to the UK’s agreement to allow the US to utilize British military sites for “defensive” operations.

Prime Minister’s Statement

During a parliamentary session on Monday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer clarified that British military bases in Cyprus are not currently being utilized by American bombers. He emphasized that the drone strike on the RAF base was unrelated to any decision made by the UK concerning the ongoing conflict between the US and Israel with Iran.

UEFA’s Assurance

A representative from UEFA stated that the organization is actively monitoring the situation. They confirmed that all scheduled matches across Europe in the forthcoming weeks are expected to proceed as planned.

“UEFA is closely monitoring the situation and maintains communication with relevant teams and local authorities when needed,” the spokesperson mentioned. “All matches scheduled in Europe in the next few weeks are set to occur as arranged.”