MADRID, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- The airspace over and around Madrid's Adolfo Suarez-Barajas airport was closed to air traffic for more than an hour on Monday after drones were reportedly flying in the area, the Spanish airports authority AENA confirmed.
The drones were reported at around 12:40 local time (1140 GMT) and caused the closure of airspace, which led to delays in departures and diversion of 26 incoming flights.
According to sources from the airspace management company Enaire, two pilots had notified of the presence of drones in the vicinity, causing a protocol known as "Rate 0" to be put into operation, which prohibits take offs and landings.
The airport was operating as normal by early afternoon and members of the Spanish National Police Force and Civil Guards have begun to search for the pilots of the drones, who could face fines of 90,000 euros (100,000 U.S. dollars).
