‘Disgraceful’: Chaos erupts as roof caves in at Son Sant Joan Airport

Travellers have been left counting their lucky stars after a roof collapsed in a busy airport, leaving glass and debris throughout the terminal.

A roof has collapsed at a busy airport in holiday hotspot sparking chaos in the arrivals hall.

Debris and glass were seen cascading from the roof of the Son Sant Joan Airport in Majorca on Tuesday as staff tried calming terrified passengers.

Pictures of the shocking scene show shattered glass on the floor and smashed up vending machines.

While crowds are seen gathered in a corner of the airport to avoid the mass of debris scattered across the floor.

A “loud bang” was heard before streams of glass and roof material tumbled to the ground.

Passengers were rushed to safety, while police cordoned off the area to investigate the incident.

Airport workers said afterwards it was a “miracle” no-one had been seriously injured.

The incident happened after a piece of debris fell and tore through the airport’s roof raising concerns of the structure’s safety, said Spanish airports authority AENA.

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.”

Airport security staff cleared the affected area as holiday-makers watched on from nearby.

One English-speaking woman could be overheard saying: ‘Oh my God’ as a cloud of dust rose from the ground where part of the roof had fallen.

Meanwhile, 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.”

That shouldn't happen. Photo: Solarpix

Lucky no one was killed. Photo: Solarpix

Renovation works at the airport have been criticised by workers and air passengers.

In January, one of the building’s panels fell to the ground causing dust and disruption.

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.

“Having to work in these sorts of conditions is disgraceful.”

Another told Majorcan paper Diario de Mallorca: “Passengers had to put masks on because of the air contamination.”

An airport spokesperson said: “Airport officials are already analysing what happened to take appropriate measures and determine responsibility if necessary”.

It comes as Spain has seen a huge influx of tourists arriving for summer holidays causing a flurry of anti-tourism protests across the country.

Spain’s anti-mass tourism movement began gaining serious momentum in April 2024 – particularly in popular tourist destinations like Majorca.

Travellers look on stunned. Photo: Solarpix

Locals have been demanding an end to the problems associated with mass tourism, including pollution, traffic chaos, the lack of affordable housing and low wages for tourism workers.

Earlier this month, protester took over the Majorcan capital city of Palma calling for all tourists to get out.

Campaigners from ‘Menys Turisme, Més Vida’ (Less Tourism, More Life) halted a bus, climbed onto it and unfurled a banner calling for an end to mass tourism.

In a video shared on social media, the group said it was “tired” of the current system and “ready to break the tourism status quo”.

It says urgent change is needed to put locals’ wellbeing ahead over the interests of the tourism industry.

This story first appeared in The Sun and was republished with permission