Flight operations at Palma de Mallorca airport were suspended for nearly an hour due to a drone sighting. No planes could land for safety reasons, and several flights were diverted. Operations resumed shortly before 8 p.m.
The incident occurred at Palma de Mallorca airport, the largest on the Balearic Islands. Enaire, Spain's state-owned company for air traffic control and airspace management, stated that the suspension was due to safety concerns. Several flights were diverted until operations resumed shortly before 8 p.m.
This event fits into a series of drone sightings at European airports. In recent weeks, there have been significant disruptions to air traffic. Just yesterday morning, operations at Munich airport were suspended again. Earlier in October, Munich airport had to close for two consecutive evenings due to suspected drone sightings. Federal police reported at least two drones seen simultaneously near two runways. At the same time, sightings occurred over the Bundeswehr site in Erding. Around 10,000 passengers were affected.
In response to the increasing drone sightings over European and German airspace, the German government plans to grant federal police more powers to shoot down drones. The EU Commission has presented plans for a European drone defense system.