Two Face €225k Fines for Illegal Tenerife Airport Drone Flights
Two individuals face fines up to 225,000 euros for illegally flying drones without permission near Tenerife South Airport, posing a risk to air traffic and violating safety regulations.
Two people are facing hefty fines, from 60 to 225,000 euros per offense, for flying drones without permission near Tenerife South Airport. The Civil Guard reported them, stating that their actions broke several air safety laws and put air traffic at risk in a sensitive area. One of the drone operators lives in the UK, the other in Barcelona.
Flying drones near airports, especially in controlled airspace, is a serious danger to planes and passengers. Spain's State Air Safety Agency (AESA) has strict rules to stop drones from interfering with manned flights and to keep air traffic safe. Not being registered with AESA, not having special permission, and not talking to air traffic controllers are all major breaches of these rules.
The incident happened when officers from the Pegaso Team, part of the Tenerife South Airport's Fiscal and Borders Section, spotted the drones in El Médano Bay while on air safety patrol. They confirmed that neither man was registered as a drone operator with AESA, which is essential for flying drones. On top of that, the drones were flying in controlled airspace, dangerously close to the airport, without any required AESA permits or contact with the control tower.
Official complaints have been sent to the Spanish Air Safety Agency (AESA), the local Island Council (Cabildo), and the Government Sub-delegation in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Since these were non-commercial drone flights, each person could face a fine anywhere from 60 to 225,000 euros. This shows how seriously authorities take air safety rules.