Unidentified Drone Sparks Russia Fears in Spain’s Skies

Flights at Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) were temporarily grounded on October 19th 2025, after air traffic controllers spotted an unidentified drone in restricted airspace.

The incident, which occurred shortly before 7 p.m. local time, caused brief but widespread disruptions across Spain’s busiest island airport before operations resumed within an hour.

Incident Overview

According to Spain’s air traffic authority Enaire, the suspension began around 18.58 local time, prompting diversions of roughly a dozen inbound aircraft to Ibiza and Menorca.

Departures were also delayed by up to 90 minutes, affecting hundreds of passengers during a high-traffic period tied to Germany’s autumn holidays.

The National Police have opened an investigation into the drone’s origin and operator, with no official findings released so far.

A spokesperson for the airport confirmed that “operations were restored quickly,” adding that no passengers or crew were harmed. By early October 20, the airport had returned to full capacity without additional disruptions.

European Drone Incursions

The incident in Mallorca forms part of a broader surge of unidentified drone activity across Europe in recent weeks.

Between late September and early October, multiple airports — including Copenhagen, Munich, and Vilnius — were temporarily shut down due to unauthorized drones.

Several military facilities and power stations in Germany, Denmark, and Poland were also affected.

European officials have warned that these incursions may represent elements of Russian hybrid warfare aimed at testing air defence responses.

While some cases have been linked to private operators or accidental incursions, others remain unexplained. EU governments are considering enhanced detection and jamming systems, with joint funding discussions underway.