A foreign national is facing significant fines after flying a drone without the necessary license or insurance during the Virgen del Carmen boat procession in Puerto de la Cruz (Tenerife) on July 15, according to a statement released this week by Spain’s National Police.

The unauthorized drone flight was detected by officers monitoring the event. Authorities quickly traced the operator to Hotel Las Águilas, located in the upper part of the municipality. Police visited the hotel to verify the individual’s identity and inspect the drone.

During questioning, the drone operator admitted to lacking both a pilot’s license and civil liability insurance. The individual also claimed to be unaware of Spain’s drone regulations, which require pre-flight authorization and coordination with aviation authorities.

The drone was seized, and the operator was formally notified that the case had been forwarded to AESA (State Aviation Safety Agency) for further administrative action.

The incident occurred in a densely populated area, with thousands of people attending the maritime celebration. At the time, three authorized drones were in operation—two managed by the National Police for security purposes and one for official event coverage.

The National Police emphasized the importance of complying with Spain’s strict drone laws, warning that unauthorized drone use poses serious risks to public safety and privacy, particularly during large public events or in sensitive areas.

Spanish legislation requires drone operators to notify the Ministry of the Interior at least five days in advance for any flights in urban environments. The Royal Decree governing unmanned aircraft systems also mandates pilot registration, liability insurance, and adherence to designated flight zones.

AESA offers comprehensive guidelines to help users understand how to operate drones safely and legally within Spanish territory.

Rules for drones in the EU and Spain

Since January 2021, all drone operators in the European Union are subject to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947, enforced in Spain by AESA. Drone operations are classified into three categories based on risk:

Open category: Low-risk recreational flights (most common).
Specific category: Higher-risk operations, such as near people or in urban zones.
Certified category: Large or complex drones (e.g. delivery drones, air taxis).

Even for basic recreational use (e.g., landscape filming), users must:

Register as an operator (mandatory if the drone weighs over 250g or has a camera),
Complete basic training for the open category (available for free online via AESA),
Avoid restricted airspace, urban areas, and protected zones,
Maintain visual contact with the drone at all times.

AESA classifies drone infractions as:

Minor (€60 to €45,000): e.g., lack of insurance, poor labelling, or losing visual line of sight.
Serious (€45,001 to €90,000): e.g., flying without training or in restricted areas.
Very serious (€90,001 to €225,000): e.g., interfering with air traffic, endangering people, or flying near critical infrastructure.

Flying without authorisation is strictly forbidden in the following areas:

Near airports or aerodromes
Protected natural areas
Urban centres, unless with official approval
Large events or demonstrations
Military or emergency service airspace

Additional prohibitions include:

Flying above 120 metres altitude
Night flights (unless specifically approved)
Recording without consent, which may breach privacy laws

To avoid fines and ensure safety, drone users in Spain must:

Register as an operator on the AESA platform.
Complete online training (open category – free).
Label the drone with the operator number.
Take out civil liability insurance, especially for non-recreational use.
Use the ENAIRE Drones app to check real-time flight zone permissions.

Flying a drone in Spain legally

https://youtu.be/9DaDd1tongA