The alert was triggered when an unmanned aerial system was spotted close to the airport facilities. This situation immediately halted operations to ensure the safety of aircraft and passengers, as reported by air traffic controllers.
During the interruption, commercial flights had to remain on hold over the sea, performing holding patterns until clearance for descent was granted. Fortunately, no flight diversions to other airports in the archipelago were reported.
“"Operations had to be immediately stopped to ensure the integrity of aircraft and passengers."
Operations resumed normally around 4:40 PM, once it was confirmed that the airspace was completely clear and free of any threats. Air traffic controllers coordinated traffic to prevent risky situations.
The use of drones near airport premises constitutes a very serious infraction, with financial penalties that can exceed 225,000 euros. This incident highlights the importance of complying with the regulations of the State Air Safety Agency (AESA), as any intrusion into controlled airspace leads to a complete shutdown of the infrastructure until safety is restored.
