Vending machines bear brunt of impact as ceiling collapses in baggage claim area at Son Sant Joan Airport sparking mass panic
Terrified passengers ran for their lives as part of the roof came crashing down at Majorca’s international airport this afternoon, sending shards of glass and debris raining onto the baggage claim area.
The dramatic collapse at Son Sant Joan Airport sparked panic among thousands of British holidaymakers who are flocking to the Spanish island for their summer breaks, with witnesses describing hearing a massive bang that sent shivers down their spines.
In what could have been a catastrophic disaster, fortune smiled on the sun-seekers as the falling ceiling debris mainly crashed onto vending machines in the arrivals hall – with miraculously no injuries reported despite the terminal being packed with tourists.
‘Like a bomb going off’
Shocking photos shared on social media show the aftermath of the terrifying incident, with large shards of glass scattered across the floor and dust covering everything in sight.
According to local news website Ultima Hora, several people were using the vending machines just moments before the ceiling gave way, narrowly escaping what could have been a tragedy.
There was a huge scare in the arrivals hall,” the Spanish news outlet reported, with witnesses describing the sound as being like an explosion.
The area was immediately cordoned off by airport and security personnel who scrambled to redirect confused and frightened passengers away from the danger zone.
Summer chaos at breaking point
The timing couldn’t be worse for the popular holiday destination, with the airport already struggling to cope with massive passenger numbers as British families jet off for their summer holidays.
Son Sant Joan Airport – the third busiest in Spain – has been handling record numbers of tourists this year, with the infrastructure clearly feeling the strain.
Just last month, the airport was branded as being on the verge of “collapse” due to chronic understaffing and massive queues that have left holidaymakers waiting for hours.
Not the first drama
Today’s ceiling collapse is just the latest in a string of alarming incidents at the airport that have left tourists wondering if their dream holiday could turn into a nightmare.
Just weeks ago, holidaymakers were left terrified after witnessing a man stab a stranger in the neck at the very same airport in a shocking unprovoked attack.
The horrific incident on May 20 saw a man in his twenties waiting to collect a friend when he was suddenly approached by a stranger who pulled out a knife and plunged it into his neck without warning.
The victim was rushed to hospital in a serious condition while the attacker was arrested at the scene, leaving witnesses traumatised by what they’d seen.
‘When will it end?’
For British tourists who’ve saved all year for their two weeks in the sun, the mounting problems at Majorca’s main airport are becoming a serious concern.
You save up all year for a nice break and then you’re worrying about whether the roof’s going to cave in while you’re collecting your suitcase,” said one dismayed traveller who asked not to be named.
“First it’s the massive queues, then people getting stabbed, now the building’s literally falling apart. What’s next?”
Airport under pressure
The incident has raised serious questions about maintenance and safety standards at the airport, which handles more than 29 million passengers a year – the vast majority of them tourists.
Local authorities were forced to launch an immediate investigation into what caused the ceiling to collapse, with early speculation focusing on the age of the building and whether proper maintenance had been carried out.
The airport, also known as Son Sant Joan, underwent major renovations in the 1990s but parts of the complex date back much further, with the current terminal building designed by Majorcan architect Pere Nicolau Bover.
Vending machines save the day
In what might be the luckiest escape of the summer season, the main impact of the falling debris was absorbed by the vending machines in the arrivals area.
“Thank God those machines were there,” one witness told local media. “If people had been standing in that exact spot, it could have been a disaster.”
The irony wasn’t lost on some passengers that the much-maligned airport vending machines – often criticised for their sky-high prices – may have actually saved lives today.
Official response
Airport authorities moved quickly to contain the situation, with security personnel establishing a cordon around the affected area and redirecting passenger flow through alternative routes.
Spain’s airport operator Aena, which manages Son Sant Joan, will now face tough questions about how such a serious structural failure could occur at one of the country’s busiest airports.
The company, which reported massive profits last year, has been under fire for not investing enough in infrastructure improvements despite the boom in tourist numbers.
What happens next?
For the thousands of British tourists still planning to fly to Majorca this summer, today’s incident will do little to calm nerves about what awaits them at Son Sant Joan Airport.
With the peak holiday season now in full swing, the airport can ill afford any more disasters or disruptions that could deter visitors from one of Spain’s most popular destinations.
Local tourism chiefs will be praying this was an isolated incident rather than a sign of deeper problems with the airport’s ageing infrastructure.
But for those passengers who heard that thunderous bang and saw debris raining from the ceiling today, their Majorcan holiday got off to the most terrifying of starts.
As one shaken tourist put it: “We came here to relax in the sun, not dodge falling ceilings. Sort it out, Majorca!”
The bigger picture
Today’s drama is just the latest headache for Majorcan authorities who are trying to balance the island’s dependence on tourism with growing concerns about overcrowding and infrastructure.
With climate campaigners targeting the island and locals growing increasingly frustrated with mass tourism, the last thing Majorca needed was its main airport literally falling apart.
The incident serves as a stark reminder that the island’s infrastructure is creaking under the weight of visitor numbers that seem to grow every year.
Whether today’s ceiling collapse proves to be a wake-up call for investment in better facilities remains to be seen. But one thing’s for certain – those vending machines deserve a medal.
