Alicante-elche Airport Forced To Close After Drone Sighting

Passengers flying into Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport connected Monday nighttime were caught up successful unexpected chaos aft a drone sighting forced aerial postulation to a complete stop.

Spain’s airdrome authority Aena confirmed that some arrivals and departures were suspended conscionable aft 9.30 p.m., pursuing reports of a drone flying dangerously adjacent to nan runway.

The airspace closure, which lasted respective hours, led to six flights being diverted – 5 to Valencia’s Manises Airport and 1 to Murcia. Aena said nan determination was made ‘purely for information reasons’ until nan business could beryllium afloat assessed.

Flights rerouted arsenic airspace locked down

Travellers onboard affected flights were informed mid-air that they could not onshore successful Alicante, while those waiting to return disconnected were near stranded successful nan terminal arsenic nan business unfolded.

Ground unit worked quickly to assistance passengers whose planes were diverted, arranging carrier and accommodation wherever possible. Others were told to stay successful interaction pinch their airlines for updates arsenic nan disruption rippled crossed nan schedule.

Civil Guard takes complete investigation

Following established information procedures, airdrome officials alerted nan Civil Guard (Guardia Civil), who person since launched an investigation to way down whoever was responsible for flying nan drone successful a restricted zone.

Authorities person not yet confirmed whether nan drone was operated illegally aliases if it drifted into nan area by mistake, but nan consequences could beryllium superior either way. Flying drones adjacent airports is strictly prohibited nether Spanish law, and offenders consequence fines of up to €225,000.

Experts explicate that moreover a mini drone tin origin awesome harm if it collides pinch an craft during take-off aliases landing, making specified incidents a superior threat to aviation safety.

A increasing interest for European airports

The incident successful Alicante isn’t an isolated one. Similar airdrome closures person occurred successful Madrid, Lisbon and London, each triggered by drone activity adjacent runways. Aviation authorities crossed Europe person been calling for tighter controls and amended drone discovery exertion to forestall early disruptions.

While Monday night’s shutdown caused nary injuries aliases worldly damage, it highlighted conscionable really easy aerial recreation tin beryllium thrown into chaos by a azygous unauthorised drone.

Normal operations astatine Alicante-Elche Airport were expected to resume erstwhile nan area was declared safe, but nan incident has erstwhile again raised questions astir really prepared airports are to woody pinch this increasing issue.

Travellers are being advised to cheque pinch their airlines earlier heading to nan airdrome arsenic flights gradually return to schedule.