A Spanish airport faced a temporary shutdown over the weekend due to a drone sighting. Operations at Cesar Manrique-Lanzarote Airport in Lanzarote were suspended after a drone was spotted in the vicinity, causing incoming flights to be placed on hold for safety reasons. The closure lasted nearly an hour before regular activities resumed, with pilots instructed to enter holding patterns before landing. Authorities are investigating the incident to determine the drone operator.
Unauthorized drone use near airports can lead to hefty fines, reaching up to €200,000 for recreational users and up to €4.5 million for professional operators. In a similar event last year, flights were diverted from Fuenteventura Airport after a drone was sighted in the Playa Blanca area, resulting in rerouted flights from Seville, Santiago de Compostela, and Gran Canaria.
Separately, Tenerife North Airport experienced an evacuation due to smoke emerging from a cafe, causing disruption for over an hour. Passengers were affected, with some missing their flights. Airport operations resumed after firefighters addressed the incident. Witnesses described the scene with thick smoke and the evacuation process.
Aena, the Spanish airport operator, provided updates during the incident and reassured travelers about the situation. Outbound flights were briefly delayed but eventually returned to normal operations.
