With frequent maritime incursions these are more serious!!
From the Gibraltar Chronicle.
A BA flight was delayed both landing and taking off from Gibraltar on Tuesday due to two separate air incursions by Spanish aircraft flying through British airspace without contacting the Rock’s air traffic control tower.
The flight was initially held off the Rock as it came in to land while air traffic controllers tried to establish contact with a Guardia Civil helicopter in British airspace.
Later after the aircraft had landed, its departure was delayed by around 10 minutes due to a Spanish fixed-wing plane flying through British airspace.
In both cases, neither Spanish aircraft had contacted air traffic control in Gibraltar, the Chronicle understands.
There was no danger to aviation at any time and the decision to delay the BA flight in both instances was taken because the Spanish aircraft’s intentions were not clear.
Aerial incursions by Spanish state aircraft are less common than those at sea but are not unheard of.
As with marine incursions, all are closely monitored and logged by the UK, which files protests with Spain on each occasion.
Last night a spokesman for the Foreign Office confirmed both incursions and said the UK would be protesting to Spain.