Drone Incident Causes Temporary Disruption at Palma Airport

Monday, October 20th, 2025

Drone Sighting Temporarily Halts Flights in Palma

Air traffic at Palma de Mallorca Airport was temporarily halted on Sunday evening, 19 October 2025, following the sighting of a drone near the runways. The incident, which occurred shortly after 7 p.m., forced Enaire, Spain’s air navigation authority, to suspend both arrivals and departures for around 35 minutes as a precautionary measure.

At least six flight crews reported seeing the drone, and eight incoming flights were diverted to Ibiza, Menorca, and Barcelona. Air traffic controllers declared a “Rate Zero”, an emergency procedure that stops new departures bound for Palma until the airspace is confirmed safe. During this time, several aircraft circled over the island, waiting for clearance to land.

Enaire later confirmed on social media that the suspension was due to safety reasons, and operations resumed at 7:38 p.m. after extensive checks. Although delays of up to an hour persisted into Monday, airport authorities clarified that these were unrelated to Sunday’s event.

Investigation Underway

The National Police launched an immediate investigation into the incident. Officers deployed their own drone in an effort to locate the unidentified device, but the search proved unsuccessful. Authorities are now working to determine who operated the drone and how it entered restricted airspace.

According to Aena, the airport operator, nearly 900 flights were scheduled for Sunday, meaning the brief closure affected a large number of passengers. However, no safety incidents were reported, and operations returned to normal later that evening.

Other Recent Drone Disruptions in Spain

The Palma incident comes amid a series of recent drone-related disruptions at other Spanish airports. At Fuerteventura Airport, a drone flew dangerously close to the airfield on the morning of 14 October 2025, forcing a temporary suspension of flights and causing delays for around 600 passengers. Further sightings were reported on 18 and 19 October, according to Controladores, a verified social media account representing Spain’s air traffic controllers, who frequently post real-time updates about air operations on X (formerly Twitter). These repeated incidents highlight growing concerns about unauthorised drone activity near airports across Spain.

Why Drones Pose a Serious Risk to Aircraft

Drones, even small ones, can pose a serious threat to aircraft safety. When operating near airports, they can enter the flight paths of planes during take-off or landing, the most sensitive phases of flight. A collision with a drone can damage an aircraft’s engines, cockpit windscreen or control surfaces, potentially leading to loss of control.

Due to these risks, unidentified drones can trigger airspace closures, delays, and diversions, disrupting travel for thousands of passengers and causing significant economic losses.

Strict Rules Around Airport Airspace

Under Spanish law, drones are strictly prohibited from flying within a five-kilometre radius of any airport without special authorisation. Violations can lead to heavy fines or criminal prosecution, particularly if the device endangers manned aircraft or interferes with air operations.

The Spanish authorities urge drone users to familiarise themselves with Enaire’s airspace maps and to always fly responsibly, far from populated areas, airports, and critical infrastructure.

Advice for Travellers

While operations at Palma Airport have now returned to normal, passengers are advised to:

• Check flight status updates directly with their airline before travelling to the airport.
• Allow extra time for check-in and security during periods of disruption.
• Follow official Aena and Enaire social media channels for verified information on flight operations.

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