Operations were briefly halted at Cesar Manrique-Lanzarote Airport due to a drone sighting, Spanish air traffic controllers said
A busy Spanish airport was forced to halt operations this weekend.
Cesar Manrique-Lanzarote Airport temporarily came to a standstill just after 4pm on Sunday afternoon after a drone sighting.
Spanish air traffic controllers said on X: “Operations halted at the airport in Lanzarote due to the presence of a drone in the vicinity. Incoming traffic in holding patterns. Delays for safety reasons.”
It was not immediately clear if any flights to or from the UK were affected. The runway is understood to have been closed for nearly an hour before normal operations resumed.
Pilots of planes due to land were told to perform holding manoeuvres before receiving clearance for descent. None were forced to divert to other airports on the Canary Islands.
It is not yet known who was operating the drone, although police are now investigating.
The unauthorised use of drones for recreational reasons in restricted areas such as airports can be punished with fines of €200,000 (nearly £200,000.) In the case of a professional use of the drone, the fine can rise to a massive €4.5 million (£3.9 million).
In September last year, three planes packed with holidaymakers were turned away at Fuenteventura Airport. At least one drone was seen in the Playa Blanca area of the Canary Island – south of El Matorral.
The diverted flights were travelling from Seville, Santiago de Compostela and Gran Canaria. Ryanair’s flight from Santiago de Compostela was diverted to Lanzarote, while the other two went to Gran Canaria Airport.
