A 43-year-old Brazilian man crashed through the perimeter fences of Palma Airport, before abandoning the vehicle and fleeing on foot with several passengers earlier this month. Local police later traced the driver, though for now the incident is being treated as a road traffic accident rather than a deliberate act.
The crash took place in the early hours of 7 September at around 5am. According to investigators, the driver lost control of his car on a sharp bend along the Camí Vell de Llucmajor, veering straight on towards the airport instead of following the road. The corner, which curves at almost 90 degrees, requires motorists to reduce speed significantly, leading police to suspect that the driver had been travelling too fast.
The car ploughed through the fencing, just 50 to 70 metres beyond the bend, and continued for a further 49 metres inside the airport grounds before coming to a halt. The vehicle ended up dangerously close to several of the runways, raising concerns about what might have happened had a plane been landing or taking off at the time.
Rather than call for help, the driver and his passengers fled the scene on foot, leaving the car abandoned within the airport’s perimeter. Authorities only became aware of the intrusion later that morning, when the empty vehicle was spotted during routine checks.
Police have since located the man thought to have been behind the wheel. While the investigation continues, officials stress that the case is being treated as an accident, albeit one that posed a serious risk to airport security and safety.