The Air Force spotted migrants during a surveillance mission in the Mediterranean on 24 October, while on duty for FRONTEX – the European Border and Coast Guard Agency.

The alert focused on a fibreglass boat, in good condition, sailing in international waters towards southern Spain, in the Cartagena area. On board were more than a dozen men, including minors.

The following day, the Portuguese detachment spotted four boats carrying irregular migrants, one of which was transporting a baby. The boats, which were small and equipped with only one engine, were travelling a distance of more than 200 kilometres between North Africa and southern Spain.

All incidents were reported to FRONTEX and the Spanish authorities, namely the Civil Guard and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Almería.

It should be noted that the Air Force is participating in FRONTEX's Operation INDALO 2025, with a Portuguese detachment operating from Malaga since 19 March, on a mission that ends on 26 November 2025.

The main objective of Operation INDALO is to combat irregular immigration and other forms of transnational crime in the Mediterranean.