The roof at Majorca's international airport partially collapsed in front of shocked travellers. Material could be seen strewn across the floor. Debris and glass reportedly fell from the ceiling into the baggage claim area of Son Sant Joan Airport, also known as Palma Airport, earlier today. No one was injured in the incident, as vending machines in the arrivals hall are said to have taken most of the impact. Police cordoned off the area.
Large amounts of dust are understood to have been given off during the collapse, which temporarily caused reduced visibility inside the terminal. Son Sant Joan is reported to have handled a record-breaking 33.3million passengers in 2024, which represented a 7% increase compared to 31.1million passengers in 2023. The airport is the third busiest in Spain and the fourteenth in Europe. Protests took place across mainland Spain and the country's islands in May against overtourism. Campaigners say that too many visitors are leading to environmental and housing problems.
The number of British tourists to Mallorca fell in February 2024, with 18,874 visitors recorded, according to the Majorca Daily Bulletin.
Airport workers said afterwar today's collapse that it was a “miracle” that no-one had been seriously injured, The Mirror reports.
Spanish airports authority AENA has blamed the collapse on debris from ongoing construction work at the airport in an initial analysis.
It is thought to have fallen onto a glass roof near the entrance to the baggage claim area, bringing it down.
An AENA spokesman told local press: “People in charge of the airport are already analysing what happened in order to adopt the appropriate measures and to determine responsibilities if necessary.”
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One English-speaking woman could be overheard saying as a cloud of dust rose from the ground where part of the roof had fallen: "Oh my God."
Local Juan Antonio Bauza dubbed Palma Airport “the worst in Spain” in a social media post this evening.
The sports reporter said on X: “I imagine someone will have to assume responsibility for this.”
In January, a panel falling and weather conditions reportedly led to dust entering the terminal and complaints.
One airport worker told local press at the time: “Neither employees or passengers could breathe and many people were slipping because of the dust on the ground."