Passengers wait for departure at Adolfo-Suarez-Barajas Airport in Madrid, Spain, Aug. 29, 2022. At least seven flights had to be diverted from Madrid's Adolfo-Suarez-Barajas Airport on Monday due to the presence of drones in the area. Monday was another difficult day for air travelers in Spain, due to strikes by the cabin crew of low-cost airlines Ryanair and Iberia Express, and the pilots of EasyJet. The ongoing actions calling for better working conditions (in the case of Ryanair and Iberia Express) and a return to pre-pandemic conditions (Easyjet pilots), led to the cancellation of 14 flights (10 from Madrid) on Monday. A further 28 were delayed. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
MADRID, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- At least seven flights had to be diverted from Madrid's Adolfo-Suarez-Barajas Airport on Monday due to the presence of drones in the area.
The public company AENA, which operates Spain's airports, announced the problem on its Twitter account, explaining that the company and the Civil Guard were "working together to reestablish operations."
"Arrivals have been restricted and for the moment, seven flights have been diverted to other airports," AENA added.
Professional drone operator Alberto Peinado told Xinhua that drones are not allowed to operate within 15 km of Madrid airport without special permission from the Spanish Interior Ministry and AENA, and prior communication with the airport's control tower.
Permission must be requested 10 working days before an operation. Those who do not comply with the rules are subject to fines of between 3,000 and 300,000 euros (3,000 and 300,000 U.S. dollars), or a prison sentence if the drone operator is considered to have endangered lives.
Monday was another difficult day for air travelers in Spain, due to strikes by the cabin crew of low-cost airlines Ryanair and Iberia Express, and the pilots of EasyJet.
The ongoing actions calling for better working conditions (in the case of Ryanair and Iberia Express) and a return to pre-pandemic conditions (Easyjet pilots), led to the cancellation of 14 flights (10 from Madrid) on Monday. A further 28 were delayed. ■
A man takes photos of flight information at Adolfo-Suarez-Barajas Airport in Madrid, Spain, Aug. 29, 2022. At least seven flights had to be diverted from Madrid's Adolfo-Suarez-Barajas Airport on Monday due to the presence of drones in the area. Monday was another difficult day for air travelers in Spain, due to strikes by the cabin crew of low-cost airlines Ryanair and Iberia Express, and the pilots of EasyJet. The ongoing actions calling for better working conditions (in the case of Ryanair and Iberia Express) and a return to pre-pandemic conditions (Easyjet pilots), led to the cancellation of 14 flights (10 from Madrid) on Monday. A further 28 were delayed. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
Photo taken on Aug. 29, 2022 shows a flight of Iberia Express at Adolfo-Suarez-Barajas Airport in Madrid, Spain. At least seven flights had to be diverted from Madrid's Adolfo-Suarez-Barajas Airport on Monday due to the presence of drones in the area. Monday was another difficult day for air travelers in Spain, due to strikes by the cabin crew of low-cost airlines Ryanair and Iberia Express, and the pilots of EasyJet. The ongoing actions calling for better working conditions (in the case of Ryanair and Iberia Express) and a return to pre-pandemic conditions (Easyjet pilots), led to the cancellation of 14 flights (10 from Madrid) on Monday. A further 28 were delayed. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
