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3 December 2010
Last updated at 15:53 ET
Spain has had to close most of its airspace after air traffic controllers began an unannounced strike.
Spanish airport authority Aena said the action began at 1700 (1600 GMT), when controllers began abandoning their posts, claiming sick leave.
Aena said the whole of Spanish airspace was now closed except for the southern region of Andalucia.
The government has said the military will take control of airspace if the controllers do not return to work.
The controllers have been involved in a dispute with Aena over hours and conditions.
Madrid's Barajas airport was one of the first to be affected, along with airports on Majorca, Ibiza and Menorca in the Balearic Islands.
Barajas is the busiest airport in Spain - a hub for international and national flights, and the base for the national carrier Iberia.
The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Madrid says the action has disrupted air traffic across the country at the start of a holiday weekend. Many passengers were left stranded on runways.
'Crime' Aena has called the action irresponsible and threatened to take punitive action against the controllers.
"The decision to paralyse air traffic in the country is extremely serious and, as well as being extremely serious misconduct that could be punished with disciplinary dismissals... it constitutes a crime," Aena said.
Spanish Transport Minister Jose Blanco also condemned the strike, saying: "We will not allow this blackmail, which is using citizens as hostages."
It is not clear how long the protest is intended to last, but according to Iberia, Barajas airport could remain closed until 2400 GMT.
Iberia has cancelled all flights from Spanish airports until 1000 GMT on Saturday.
Aena estimates that the strike action could affect the travel plans of up to 250,000 people.
"All flights are blocked, there's a huge lot of people here, sitting around everywhere. Right now everyone is calm, but we don't know what's happening," said one traveller at Barajas airport.
"The captain came out to say Spanish airspace had suddenly shut, with no prior warning," another passenger stuck in a plane at Palma told Spanish radio.
Are you at any of the striking airports in Spain? Has the disruption affected your travel plans? Send us your comments using the form below.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
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Spanish airport authority Aena said the action began at 1700 (1600 GMT), when controllers began abandoning their posts, claiming sick leave.
Aena said the whole of Spanish airspace was now closed except for the southern region of Andalucia.
The government has said the military will take control of airspace if the controllers do not return to work.
The controllers have been involved in a dispute with Aena over hours and conditions.
Madrid's Barajas airport was one of the first to be affected, along with airports on Majorca, Ibiza and Menorca in the Balearic Islands.
Barajas is the busiest airport in Spain - a hub for international and national flights, and the base for the national carrier Iberia.
The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Madrid says the action has disrupted air traffic across the country at the start of a holiday weekend. Many passengers were left stranded on runways.
'Crime' Aena has called the action irresponsible and threatened to take punitive action against the controllers.
"The decision to paralyse air traffic in the country is extremely serious and, as well as being extremely serious misconduct that could be punished with disciplinary dismissals... it constitutes a crime," Aena said.
Spanish Transport Minister Jose Blanco also condemned the strike, saying: "We will not allow this blackmail, which is using citizens as hostages."
It is not clear how long the protest is intended to last, but according to Iberia, Barajas airport could remain closed until 2400 GMT.
Iberia has cancelled all flights from Spanish airports until 1000 GMT on Saturday.
Aena estimates that the strike action could affect the travel plans of up to 250,000 people.
"All flights are blocked, there's a huge lot of people here, sitting around everywhere. Right now everyone is calm, but we don't know what's happening," said one traveller at Barajas airport.
"The captain came out to say Spanish airspace had suddenly shut, with no prior warning," another passenger stuck in a plane at Palma told Spanish radio.
Are you at any of the striking airports in Spain? Has the disruption affected your travel plans? Send us your comments using the form below.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
Read the terms and conditions
Powered by WizardRSS | Best Membership Site Software