FLIGHT ALERT: Spain’s Madrid Airport CLOSED As Drones Detected In The Area

Arrival flights are being re-routed to other airports and departures have been suspended until at least 14.40

The airspace at Adolfo Suarez-Madrid Barajas airport has been closed and its operations are suffering “delays” this Monday after the detection of unauthorized drone flights in the vicinity of the airport, as confirmed by the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda.

Enaire, Spain’s the official air traffic control body, first indicated that delays were occurring at Madrid-Barajas airport, although shortly afterwards confirmed the closure of the airspace.

📣 #Actualización

El #Aeropuerto Adolfo Suárez #Madrid–#Barajas va permitiendo la entrada de tráfico.

Por el momento, se han producido 22 desvíos.

📲 Consulta con tu aerolínea el estado de tu vuelo. https://t.co/rSIc2kUqOe

— Aena (@aena) February 3, 2020

According to the first available data, in the course of this morning two pilots notified the sighting of some drones, so a procedure of massive diversion of planes has been activated, called Rate 0, which prevents the take-off and landing of planes in the airport, as informed by Enaire’s sources.

As Euro Weekly News understands some 20 flights have been diverted.

Planes flying into Madrid have been diverted as of 12.40 hrs, all redirected to other airports, and departures have been suspended. The alert will be maintained in principle until 14.40, according to the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda.

Authorities advise to check flights with the corresponding airline.

The State Agency for Air Safety (AESA) have published on Twitter that “flying drones in the vicinity of an airport is a serious violation and penalties can reach 90,000 euros.”

Enaire confirms the delay stressing that a drone is NOT a toy:

“Delays at Adolfo Suárez Airport #Madrid-#Barajas due to the possible presence of #drones in the vicinity. A drone is not a toy, it’s an aircraft”

Demoras en Aeropuerto Adolfo Suárez #Madrid–#Barajas ante la posible presencia de #drones en las inmediaciones.

🚫 Un dron no es un juguete, es una aeronave 👀 https://t.co/Sv8If6oexc

📲 Consulta tu vuelo con aerolínea. pic.twitter.com/6MKAFlMDCm

— ENAIRE (@ENAIRE) February 3, 2020