Passengers are experiencing travel disruptions as a popular airport for British tourists has been shut down due to reported drone activity in the vicinity. Police are currently investigating the presence of drones at Alicante-Elche Airport in eastern Spain, leading to the diversion of multiple flights. Authorities have confirmed that nine planes have been redirected, and incoming and outgoing flights have been put on hold.
Aena, the agency managing Spanish airports, has disclosed that Ryanair flights from London, Manchester, Newcastle, Durham, and Frankfurt have been rerouted until 11 pm local time. The affected flights have been diverted to nearby airports such as Valencia, Murcia, and Palma de Majorca.
Law enforcement has dispatched a specialized aerial unit to locate the drones believed to be in the Torrellano area. A spokesperson for Alicante-Elche Airport mentioned that operations are on hold until safety is ensured.
In an update, the airport has announced the resumption of operations with the departure of the first flight shortly before 11 pm. However, passengers should anticipate significant delays due to the airport closure. Previous communications from Aena have advised travelers to check with their airlines for flight status updates.
This incident follows a recent drone sighting that resulted in flight disruptions at Majorca Airport, where several planes had to divert to alternative Spanish airports. Incidents involving drones have caused disruptions at various European airports, with allegations of Russian involvement in some cases.
Passengers on a Ryanair flight from Madrid to Palma reported that cabin crew informed them of a drone sighting during landing, leading to a diversion to Ibiza. Travelers have expressed uncertainty about departure times as diverted flights require refueling.