Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport halted all operations for 30 minutes after a drone was spotted near the runway. Several flights were diverted. Authorities quickly responded, but delays continued as normality was restored.
Air traffic at Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport was brought to a standstill on Sunday night after a drone was detected near the approach to runway 12. The incident, which occurred shortly before 21:30, forced controllers to suspend all arrivals and departures for safety reasons. Several incoming flights had to be diverted as a result, causing disruption for passengers and airlines operating in one of Spain’s busiest airports.
According to Enaire, Spain’s air navigation manager, the alert was triggered after multiple flight crews reported seeing a drone at the end of the runway. The situation was swiftly communicated to relevant authorities, and the airport was declared temporarily unavailable. Eurocontrol, the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation, also reported the closure and confirmed that diversions were underway due to the incident.
By just before 22:00, the alert was lifted and operations gradually resumed. However, air traffic controllers warned that it would take additional time to fully restore normal schedules, even after the immediate risk had passed. They advised passengers to remain patient as the backlog of delayed and diverted flights was addressed.
The use of drones near airports is strictly prohibited in Spain due to the significant safety risks they pose to commercial aviation. Incidents like this can lead to operational shutdowns, costly diversions, and cascading delays across the network. Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport is a key hub for both domestic and international travel, especially during peak tourist seasons. The event highlights ongoing challenges in enforcing drone regulations and the need for vigilance around critical infrastructure. According to data from Spain’s Ministry of Transport, drone-related disruptions at airports, while still relatively rare, have increased in recent years as drone ownership becomes more widespread. Authorities continue to remind the public that unauthorized drone flights near airports can result in severe penalties, including fines and criminal charges.
