Passengers are experiencing travel disruptions as a well-liked British tourist destination airport has been shut down due to reported drone activity in the vicinity.
Law enforcement is currently looking into the situation at Alicante-Elche Airport in eastern Spain following drone sightings, resulting in flight diversions. Authorities have confirmed that nine planes have been redirected, and arrivals and departures are currently prohibited.
Aena, the agency managing Spanish airports, has disclosed that Ryanair flights from London, Manchester, Newcastle, Durham, and Frankfurt have been redirected until 11 pm local time. These flights have been rerouted to nearby airports such as Valencia, Murcia, and Palma de Majorca.
To address the drone presence believed to be in the Torrellano area, police have dispatched a specialized aerial unit for locating purposes. An Alicante-Elche Airport spokesperson mentioned, “For now, there is limited information available. The area appears clear, but safety checks are necessary before resuming operations.”
In an update, the airport announced the resumption of operations with the departure of the first plane shortly before 11 pm. However, passengers are advised to expect significant delays due to the airport closure.
Earlier, Majorca Airport faced a similar situation with flights being halted after drone sightings, leading to diversions. FlightRadar24 reported the suspension of operations at Palma de Mallorca Airport due to drone presence. Several flights were redirected to alternate Spanish airports.
Reports indicated that air crew on multiple planes to and from Majorca Airport witnessed potential drone activity, prompting emergency protocols. Drone-related disruptions have affected various European airports, with allegations suggesting Russian involvement in some incidents.
Passengers aboard a Ryanair flight from Madrid to Palma reported a drone sighting during landing, resulting in diversion to Ibiza. One passenger mentioned that diverted flights had to pause for refueling, causing uncertainty about departure times.
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