Air traffic controllers immediately stopped departures and arrivals after a drone was detected near the airport. During the groundstop, around a dozen flights were diverted to other Spanish airports, including Barcelona and Valencia. Incoming aircraft were placed in holding patterns or rerouted until clearance was given to resume operations.
Although the shutdown lasted only about an hour, disruption continued throughout the evening. Delays of up to 90 minutes were reported as the airport worked to manage the backlog of flights. Media reports said that large numbers of travellers were among those stranded in the terminal during the interruption.
Under Spanish and EU aviation regulations, drones are strictly prohibited from operating within 5 kilometers of an airport without prior authorization. Unauthorized drone activity is treated as a serious aviation security risk and can result in criminal prosecution.
This latest incident follows a series of drone-related disruptions at European airports in recent weeks, including airports in Scandinavia and Germany. Spanish authorities have launched an investigation and are expected to examine whether the Palma drone incursion is linked to similar recent cases elsewhere in Europe.
Flight operations at Palma Airport resumed shortly after 6:30 pm UK time, and the airport gradually restored normal schedules later in the evening.
The incident highlights growing concerns within the aviation industry over drone-related airspace violations and their operational impact on airports, airlines and passengers.
Tags: drone, Palma de Mallorca Airport