Ábalos: "The pilot decided for Real Madrid to fly to Pamplona"
The Minister for Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, José Luis Ábalos, confirmed that the pilot flying Madrid to Pamplona considered the conditions safe to travel on Friday.
Storm Filomena has caused havoc across much of Spain over the last few days, with many areas receiving record figures for snow. The extreme weather has forced roads to close, both main and secondary roads, as well as causing heavy interruptions of train and airport services.
This was the case at the Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport on Friday night. Real Madrid left for Pamplona to play their LaLiga match against Osasuna. After approximately a four-hour delay on the runway, due to snow and ice, the plane finally took off for the northern city.
Speaking to the media on Sunday, the Minister for Transport, José Luis Ábalos, explained the reason why the flight took off despite the storm.
Pilot's decision
"The airport was operating, but not as normal," said Ábalos. The minister also claimed that the plane "left just as flights were being cancelled". Lastly, he explained that it was "the pilot's decision, as he understood that the correct safety conditions were in place for take off."