Passengers faced chaos at a well-known holiday destination airport as reports emerged of a drone sighting, disrupting flight operations at Majorca Airport in Spain. Several flights were diverted to other airports due to safety concerns raised by air crew who reported sightings of a drone. FlightRadar24 confirmed that Palma de Mallorca Airport suspended operations temporarily due to the drone presence, with the last landing recorded at 18:58 local time.
Approximately 12 flights were diverted, and a flight from Gatwick experienced delays. Despite a search by Spanish emergency services yielding no suspicious findings, air crew on multiple planes reported drone sightings, triggering emergency protocols. This incident adds to a series of drone-related disruptions at European airports, with allegations of interference linked to Russia.
Enaire, the Spanish air traffic control agency, announced a temporary suspension of airport operations for safety reasons after the drone sighting. Subsequently, the airport reopened, allowing flights to resume normal operations, with passengers advised to check flight statuses with airlines. Aena, the entity managing Spanish airports, temporarily halted arrival operations as a precautionary measure for 35 minutes before confirming a return to normalcy following safety assessments.
Passengers on a Ryanair flight from Madrid to Palma recounted being informed by cabin crew about the drone sighting, leading to a diversion to Ibiza. A passenger shared uncertainties about departure due to refueling stops, highlighting the disruption faced by diverted flights.