On the evening of October 27, 2025, chaos rippled through one of Spain’s busiest airports as a mysterious drone sighting forced the temporary shutdown of Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport. For two tense hours, all arrivals and departures were suspended after air traffic controllers detected an unauthorized drone hovering dangerously close to the runway, according to the Spanish airport operator AENA, as reported by multiple outlets including La Opinión de Murcia and DW.
The incident, which began at approximately 8:53 PM local time, triggered immediate safety protocols. Flights in the air were rerouted, and those awaiting departure were grounded, leaving over 1,000 passengers stranded or facing significant delays. The airport, a major hub for British and European holidaymakers, resumed normal operations only around 11:00 PM, once authorities confirmed the airspace was clear of foreign objects.
"Due to the presence of a drone in the vicinity of Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport, flight diversions are taking place," local aviation officials announced on social media, as cited by The Sun. "We are working with law enforcement agencies to return operations to normal as quickly as possible. Check your flight status with your airline."
In total, ten international flights were diverted: seven to Valencia and one each to Murcia, Barcelona, and Palma de Mallorca, according to UNN and DW. Flights originating from major cities such as London, Manchester, Newcastle, Durham, and Frankfurt were among those affected. Some flights faced delays, but notably, there were no outright cancellations. The incident, however, left hundreds of passengers stranded, grappling with confusion and uncertainty as departure boards filled with updates and changes.
Passengers described scenes of frustration in the terminal, with many caught off guard by the sudden disruption. For some, the experience was a nerve-wracking reminder of the growing vulnerability of modern air travel to technological interference. "It all happened so fast—one minute we were boarding, and the next there were announcements about a drone and that our flight was being diverted," said a British tourist, echoing the sentiments of many others left in limbo.
Authorities wasted no time in launching a full-scale investigation. The Spanish Civil Guard and National Police, including a specialist aerial unit, were deployed to the Torrellano area near the airport, equipped with the AeroScope system—a technology capable of detecting, tracking, and neutralizing unauthorized drones in restricted airspace. As DW noted, the National Police’s drone detection unit worked through the night to trace the source of the rogue device, but as of Tuesday, the perpetrator remained unidentified and at large.
This was not an isolated event. In fact, the Alicante-Elche shutdown is just the latest in a troubling pattern of drone-related disruptions at airports across Spain and the wider European Union. Since late September, mysterious drone overflights have caused closures and delays at major travel hubs including Munich in Germany—one of Europe’s largest airports—and four separate airports in Denmark, according to Associated Press and DW. Earlier in October, Palma de Mallorca Airport in Spain was forced to halt all operations after a drone was spotted near its runway, resulting in the diversion of at least twelve flights and the stranding of thousands of passengers.
At Alicante-Elche, the impact was especially acute given the airport’s recent surge in popularity. In September 2025, it broke its monthly passenger record, welcoming more than 1.9 million visitors—primarily from the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium. The airport, located about 420 kilometers southeast of Madrid, serves as a critical gateway for tourists flocking to Spain’s Costa Blanca and beyond.
According to La Opinión de Murcia, by midnight, all flights awaiting departure were able to take off between 11:15 PM and 11:30 PM. The quick resumption of operations was a testament to the efficiency of airport staff and the coordination between aviation authorities and law enforcement. Still, the incident left a lingering sense of vulnerability and sparked renewed debate over the adequacy of current drone regulations and countermeasures.
As DW and UNN reported, Spain’s Civil Guard and National Police are continuing their investigation, with AeroScope technology playing a central role in their efforts to identify and track unauthorized drones. The Spanish government, like its counterparts across Europe, is under mounting pressure to bolster airport security and prevent future incidents. In recent months, at least ten European countries—including Romania, Poland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, France, Germany, Lithuania, Estonia, and Belgium—have reported drone incursions disrupting airport operations. Some of these incidents, as DW noted, are suspected to be linked to broader geopolitical tensions, particularly in the wake of Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine and its alleged hybrid warfare tactics targeting European infrastructure.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin is waging a hybrid war against Germany and attempting to undermine Europe’s political order, with drone attacks forming part of a wider strategy to intimidate the West. While there is no direct evidence linking the Alicante incident to foreign actors, the timing and frequency of these events have raised eyebrows among security experts and policymakers alike.
For now, Spanish authorities are urging vigilance and cooperation from the public. Travelers are being advised to check with their airlines for the latest updates and to report any suspicious activity near airports. The incident has also reignited calls for stricter penalties and technological safeguards to deter would-be offenders from endangering public safety and disrupting vital transportation networks.
Despite the disruption, Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport has resumed normal operations, and no injuries or major accidents were reported. The airport’s swift recovery offered some reassurance to travelers and the local tourism industry, which is still rebounding from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and other global uncertainties.
As investigations continue and Europe grapples with the challenge of rogue drones, the events of October 27 serve as a stark reminder of the delicate balance between technological innovation and public safety. For passengers, airlines, and authorities alike, the hope is that lessons learned will lead to stronger protections and fewer disruptions in the future.
