The uncontrolled entry of a Chinese rocket into the atmosphere caused several Spanish airports to close for at least an hour this Friday, official sources said.

take-offs and landings were suspended between 08:38 and 09:38 local time (07:38 and 08:38 GMT) in the regions of Aragon, the Balearic Islands, Catalonia and Navarra, in the north and east of Spain, which involved major airports in the country such as Barcelona and Palma.

Sources of the Spanish air traffic manager, the state body Enaire, have indicated that the interruption during this hour will cause delays throughout the day, although it is still early to predict how the situation will evolve.

The decision to suspend flights was made by the Department of Homeland Security after various global aviation safety agencies traced the trajectory of the eight-ton rocket, which was about to make an uncontrolled entry into the atmosphere.

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