Passengers faced disruptions at a popular holiday destination airport as reports emerged of a drone sighting. Majorca Airport experienced flight delays and diversions due to a drone in the airspace, forcing several flights to redirect to other Spanish airports. Emergency services conducted a search, but no suspicious activity was found.
Approximately 12 flights were redirected, while a Gatwick-bound flight was delayed. Crew members on multiple flights reported drone sightings, prompting emergency procedures. Drone-related disruptions have affected various European airports, with alleged links to incidents involving Russia.
Enaire, the Spanish air traffic control agency, announced a temporary suspension of operations at Palma de Majorca airport for safety reasons following the drone sighting. Subsequently, the airport reopened, allowing flights to resume normal operations, with passengers advised to check with airlines for any flight status updates.
Aena, the operator of Spanish airports, temporarily halted arrival operations as a precautionary measure for 35 minutes. Operations returned to normal after safety checks were completed. Passengers on a Ryanair flight from Madrid to Palma recounted being diverted to Ibiza due to a drone sighting during landing, leading to refueling delays and uncertainty about departure times.