Seven people have been arrested, 47 flights have been cancelled, and 13 flights have been diverted after more than 20 passengers from a flight between Casablanca and Istanbul escaped through Palma airport’s runways and landed in Mallorca by simulating a diabetic coma.
They disregarded all airport and police security measures and fled on foot. A group of Moroccan passengers used yesterday’s emergency landing of a plane operated by the firm Air Arabia Maroc on the route between Casablanca and Istanbul to create a commotion and make a hasty exit via the runways. Nothing like this had ever occurred before, and the protection of Son Sant Joan had never been evaded in this manner for an unauthorized and large entry into Mallorca.
After the incident occurred at 7.30 p.m., Aena was obliged to close the airport until 11.50 p.m. 47 flights were cancelled, 27 arriving and 20 departing, and another 13 were diverted: five to Barcelona, four to Eivissa, two to Maó, one to Madrid, and one to the city of Valencia, resulting in hours of absolute chaos for hundreds of passengers held in Son Sant Joan without concrete information about what was happening.
At approximately 7 p.m., the Son Sant Joan control tower received a signal requesting an emergency landing in Palma due to medical concerns. A Moroccan national, 32 years old, was ill owing to diabetes decompensation and required immediate medical treatment.
The Air Arabia flight was given priority landing in Palma, and a team of airport emergency officials boarded a special vehicle to proceed to the aircraft, which was parked in a location with no access to fingers.
They entered two technicians and medical personnel, who supported the passenger and conducted an initial check, during which he began communicating that he was feeling better and had only experienced a brief bout of dizziness. The hoax had been uncovered.
When they exited the ship with the passenger, the Guardia Civil identified the two individuals and transported them to the Son Llàtzer hospital. According to information obtained by this newspaper, the alleged sufferer was examined again and no major symptoms were discovered. He was discharged immediately. And he was arrested by the Policía Nacional a few hours later. The partner seizes the opportunity to escape the hospital in hurry.
While the fictitious patient and his friend were being moved to Son Llàtzer aboard the Air Arabia flight, approximately twenty passengers created a commotion, pushing and shoving their way out of the aircraft and fleeing along the runways. They evaded airport security and exited the premises despite Civil Guard raids on the runways. The Benemérita was added to the device shortly after the National Police. The agents extended the siege to include the area surrounding the airport and the city of Palma.
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