Drone Sightings Disrupt Operations at Barajas Airport
In a surprising turn of events, 21 flights scheduled to land at Barajas Airport in Madrid were diverted due to drone sightings in the area. This incident caused significant delays for hundreds of flights that were set to take off from the airport on Wednesday afternoon.
A spokesman for Enaire, the air navigation manager, confirmed the details to the EFE news agency. Around 7:15 PM, the air traffic controllers' account on X (formerly known as Twitter) reported that operations at Barajas Airport had to be suspended due to the presence of drones nearby.
Shortly after, the Civil Guard reassured the public that there were no new drone sightings, which allowed air traffic to resume normal operations. Enaire officials indicated that the suspension was part of the established security protocol designed to address such situations swiftly.
In instances where planes are in the air waiting to land, priority is given to these aircraft, which can lead to delays for those flights still on the ground preparing for departure. Despite the disruptions, the spokesman highlighted that the incident was resolved within a matter of minutes.
Overall, the airport manager, Aena, reported that out of the 1,034 flights scheduled for Wednesday, 21 had to be diverted as a direct consequence of the drone-related issue. Authorities will continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure the safety and efficiency of air traffic operations.
Related Sources: