
Majorca's main international airport descended into chaos on Tuesday as unauthorised drone activity forced authorities to take the drastic decision to suspend all flight operations. The incident at Palma de Mallorca Airport, one of Spain's busiest holiday hubs, created widespread disruption during peak travel season.
Complete Airspace Shutdown
Air traffic controllers were left with no choice but to implement a full ground stop after multiple drone sightings were reported in the immediate vicinity of the airport. The safety breach prompted immediate action from both airport officials and Spain's air navigation manager, ENAIRE.
All incoming and outgoing flights were affected, with planes prevented from taking off and arriving aircraft forced to hold in designated waiting areas or divert to alternative airports.
Passenger Pandemonium
The sudden suspension created scenes of frustration and confusion throughout the terminal building. Thousands of travellers found their holiday plans thrown into disarray as departure boards displayed cancellation notices across multiple airlines.
Eyewitnesses described crowded check-in areas and growing queues at information desks as anxious passengers sought updates about when normal service might resume.
Emergency Response Activated
Local law enforcement and security teams immediately launched an operation to locate the drone operator and secure the airspace. Spanish authorities treat such incidents with extreme seriousness due to the potential risk drones pose to aircraft safety.
Under Spanish aviation law, operating drones near airports without proper authorisation constitutes a serious offence, carrying substantial penalties including heavy fines.
Growing Aviation Concern
This incident highlights the increasing challenge that rogue drone activity presents to airport security worldwide. Similar disruptions have occurred at major UK airports including Gatwick and Heathrow in recent years, causing travel chaos for hundreds of thousands of passengers.
Aviation experts emphasise that even small drones can cause catastrophic damage if colliding with aircraft, particularly during critical takeoff and landing phases.
Resolution and Recovery
After approximately two hours of suspended operations, authorities confirmed the airspace had been secured and flights gradually began resuming. However, the knock-on effects of the disruption were expected to continue throughout the day as airlines worked to clear the backlog of affected flights.
Passengers were advised to contact their airlines directly for the latest information regarding rescheduled departures and potential compensation claims.