Vueling flight delayed in Valencia after man climbs onto aircraft

A Vueling flight from Valencia to Amsterdam was delayed by more than two hours on 1 February 2026 after a man gained unauthorised access to the runway and climbed onto the roof of the aircraft shortly before departure.

The incident took place at Valencia’s Manises Airport at around 6:30 pm local time and involved flight VY8351, operated by an Airbus A320 registered as EC-MYC. Witnesses captured video footage showing the individual moving across the upper fuselage while airport staff and security personnel tried to bring the situation under control. 

Spanish authorities reported that the 24-year-old man remained on top of the aircraft for approximately ten minutes. During that time, ground operations were temporarily suspended as a precaution. Civil Guard officers were called to the scene and eventually persuaded him to come down safely. Authorities confirmed that he was not carrying any weapons and that no passengers, crew members, or airport staff were injured during the incident.

Medical personnel were dispatched to the runway, and the man was transported to Hospital General de València in a basic life support unit due to what officials described as an unsettled or altered psychological state. Spanish airport operator Aena later stated that the individual did not pose a direct risk to passengers.

However, standard aviation procedures required a full technical inspection of the aircraft.  Vueling maintenance teams examined the upper fuselage and confirmed that it had not sustained any damage. Following the inspection, flight VY8351 eventually departed at 8:50 pm, over two hours behind schedule.

The man has been reported for violating Spain’s Aviation Safety Law, under which offences can carry financial penalties and, in more serious cases, prison sentences. Aena has also launched an internal investigation to determine how he was able to access the restricted airside area, which is normally protected by multiple layers of security. 

While such incidents are rare, brief breaches of airport security can cause major operational disruption. These include flight delays, mandatory technical inspections, and knock-on effects for passengers and airlines. Recent examples include two travellers attempting to chase a Wizz Air flight on foot at Cologne Bonn Airport in Germany, and a disruptive passenger, stripped to his underwear, on an Air Asia flight from Nha Trang to Bangkok, who attempted to leave the aircraft mid-flight, forcing an emergency landing. Some cases turn out to be fatal, in July 2025, a man lost his life after he was pulled into the engine of a plane while preparing for departure, the victim ran onto the tarmac during take-off preparations.