SHANGHAI - People found flying private paragliders without official permits may face criminal detention, Shanghai police said after 39 commercial flights at the city's two airports were disrupted on Thursday.

Three powered aircrafts, which were later identified by police as paragliders carrying nine people, flew without permits over Fengxian Bay in southern Shanghai's Fengxian district, the Shanghai-based Oriental Morning Post reported on Sunday.

Although the police and air force quickly began an emergency response, normal flight operations were seriously disrupted.