Berlin Brandenburg Airport suspends flights for 45 minutes after drone spotted on runway
Why It MattersRising drone sightings at German airports highlight growing operational risk for air traffic control and airport authorities managing airspace security.
Berlin Brandenburg Airport briefly halted all flight operations on Wednesday evening after a drone was spotted on the airport's northern runway at 8:00 p.m. local time. Airspace above the airport was closed within minutes of the sighting and remained shut for at least 45 minutes, with several flights diverted to Dresden during the suspension. Operations have since resumed, though flights are experiencing delays, airport and police officials said.
Drone sightings at German airports have been increasing. Berlin Brandenburg recorded the highest number among German airports in the first half of the year, with 28 incidents logged in the first six months, according to Germany's air traffic control authority DFS. Flight operations were temporarily suspended in seven of those cases. By comparison, eight drones were detected at the airport and its surroundings during all of 2025, DFS data shows.
