A recreational drone blown off course by strong winds forced a temporary suspension of operations at Gran Canaria Airport after it entered the airport grounds, the Guardia Civil has confirmed.

The incident happened on 25th July when a drone was being flown without authorisation from a nearby beach. The area is subject to strict flight restrictions because of its proximity to aircraft take-off and landing routes.

According to the Guardia Civil, officers identified the unauthorised flight before worsening weather caused the operator to lose control of the drone. Strong gusts carried the aircraft into the airport perimeter, creating a potential hazard for planes taking off and landing.

As a precaution, airport operations were temporarily suspended while officials confirmed the drone no longer posed a risk to air traffic. Flights resumed once safety checks had been completed and the area was declared secure.

The Guardia Civil has referred the case to the relevant aviation authority, which will decide whether to take administrative action for an alleged breach of Spain's drone regulations.

Following the incident, the Guardia Civil's specialist drone unit reminded pilots to check airspace restrictions before every flight. Official websites and mobile apps provide information on restricted zones, required permissions and other safety rules.

Although the drone involved did not legally require its operator to complete formal training, Spain's Aviation Safety Agency recommends that all recreational drone users obtain the free online A1/A3 theoretical certificate. The qualification is recognised across the European Union and covers safe flight planning, airspace awareness and the rules designed to prevent incidents like this.