Drone alarm in Mallorca

On Sunday evening, Palma de Mallorca Airport had to temporarily suspend operations after an unknown drone was spotted near the runways. Spain's state-owned air traffic control and airspace management company, Enaire, confirmed the incident and stated that all takeoffs and landings had been halted as a precautionary measure.

The disruption lasted approximately 35 minutes. At 7:39 p.m., Enaire announced that regular flight operations had resumed. They wanted to ensure that there was no danger to passengers or crew.

Flight delays

The security measure caused instant disruption to air traffic. Eight flights scheduled to land in Palma were rerouted to Menorca, Ibiza, and Barcelona, as other aircraft circled in holding patterns above northeast Mallorca.

While flight operations were restored swiftly, the disruption led to delays ranging from 30 to 90 minutes for departing and arriving flights. Authorities advised passengers to confirm flight information with their airlines. The source of the drone and the identity of its operator have yet to be determined.

Growing concern in Europe

The incident in Mallorca is one of a growing series of similar incidents in Europe. In recent weeks, drone sightings at several major European airports have led to significant disruptions to air traffic, including flight cancellations and widespread airspace closures.

Authorities in Germany, Denmark, Finland, and Switzerland have expressed growing concern over the increasing frequency of unidentified drone sightings near airports and military installations. Officials are investigating whether these incursions represent intentional acts of sabotage or espionage. To counter the threat, several nations are drafting legislation to simplify the process of disabling or destroying drones operating in restricted airspace.

Following the incident in Mallorca, Spanish authorities emphasized that the situation was completely under control. However, the incident demonstrates once again how vulnerable European air traffic remains to disruptions caused by unmanned aircraft – even at busy holiday destinations.