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Flights at Berlin Brandenburg Airport were temporarily suspended after authorities reported a drone sighting near the runway, prompting safety concerns. Air traffic was halted as a precaution while officials investigated the incident. Departures and arrivals resumed after a brief delay once the airspace was declared clear. The incident highlights growing concerns over unauthorized drones disrupting major airports and endangering passenger safety.
Flights at Berlin Brandenburg Airport were halted for nearly two hours Friday night after unidentified drones were spotted near the airfield the latest in a series of drone-related disruptions across Europe, an airport spokesman told AFP.
Takeoffs and landings were suspended from 8:08 p.m. to 9:58 p.m. local time (1908–2058 GMT), forcing “a whole series of flights” to divert to other German cities. To reduce the impact on passengers, Berlin temporarily lifted its night-flight ban once operations resumed.
“We assume the danger has been averted for the time being,” the spokesman said.
German officials have grown increasingly concerned about the rising drone threat, following multiple sightings of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) near airports and sensitive military sites this year.
Similar incidents have recently disrupted air traffic in Denmark, Norway, and Poland. Authorities in Romania and Estonia have accused Russia of involvement in some of those drone sightings allegations Moscow has dismissed.
Germany, a key NATO supporter of Ukraine, has also hinted at possible Russian links after several UAV sightings over military bases, industrial facilities, and other critical infrastructure.
Earlier in October, drone activity over Munich twice forced the city’s airport to shut down, grounding thousands of passengers as flights were canceled or rerouted.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has urged stronger defenses against what he called a “hybrid threat,” calling for new systems to detect, assess, and, if necessary, neutralize drones.
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Source: NDTV
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