Lanzarote Airport shuts down with all flights delayed after concerning sighting

A busy Spanish airport was forced to halt operations this weekend. Cesar Manrique-Lanzarote Airport briefly came to a standstill just after 4pm on Sunday afternoon following a drone sighting. Spanish air traffic controllers said on X: "Operations halted at the airport in Lanzarote due to the presence of a drone in the vicinity. Incoming traffic in holding patterns. Delays for safety reasons." It was not immediately clear if any flights to or from the UK were affected. The runway is understood to have been closed for nearly an hour before normal operations resumed. Pilots of planes due to land were told to perform holding manoeuvres before receiving clearance for descent. None were forced to divert to other airports on the Canary Islands. It is not yet known who was operating the drone, although police are now investigating. The unauthorised use of drones for recreational reasons in restricted areas such as airports can be punished with fines of €200,000 (nearly £200,000.) In the case of a professional use of the drone, the fine can rise to a massive €4.5 million (£3.9 million). In September last year, three planes packed with holidaymakers were turned away at Fuenteventura Airport. At least one drone was seen in the Playa Blanca area of the Canary Island - south of El Matorral. The diverted flights were travelling from Seville, Santiago de Compostela and Gran Canaria. Ryanair’s flight from Santiago de Compostela was diverted to Lanzarote, while the other two went to Gran Canaria Airport. Earlier on Sunday, holidaymakers were evacuated from a Tenerife airport for more than an hour after smoke appeared in the boarding area. Hundreds of travellers were ordered to leave the area at Tenerife North-Ciudad de La Laguna Airport around 8.30am as firefighters were called. It later emerged the smoke was coming from a fire at a cafe at the airport, the smaller of the two international airports on the island of Tenerife and is around seven miles by road from the capital Santa Cruz. Some people missed their flights although it was not immediately clear on Monday morning how many had to be reaccommodated in other planes. Footage from the scene showed a thick cloud of white smoke by the boarding gates. One witness said: "I was one of the first to see it and the Civil Guard came and ordered us to leave the area. The smoke was coming out of some grilles in the floor." Another described the smell as similar to burnt rubber and said her flight had departed "hall-full" without her but with her checked-in luggage on board. Spanish airport operator Aena confirmed just before midday on Sunday: "An incident with smoke has occurred at Tenerife North-Ciudad de La Laguna Airport and the boarding area has been evacuated. "Airport firefighters are working in the zone. If you are going to travel consult with your airline about your flight." It later added: "Things are getting back to normal at the airport. Outgoing flights have been briefly delayed."