Drone Scare Halts Flights at Berlin Airport for Two Hours

Flights at Berlin Brandenburg Airport were brought to an unexpected standstill on Friday night after unidentified drones were spotted in the airspace, prompting authorities to halt all take-offs and landings for nearly two hours.

The suspension, which lasted from 8:08 pm to 9:58 pm local time, disrupted dozens of flights and forced several planes to divert to other German cities. Airport officials confirmed that operations resumed only after ensuring the airspace was clear of potential threats.

To manage the disruption, Berlin temporarily lifted its night-flight ban, allowing delayed aircraft to land later than usual and minimize passenger inconvenience. "We assume that the danger has been averted for the time being," said an airport spokesperson following the resumption of services.

Germany has seen a surge in drone-related incidents in recent months, raising alarm among aviation and security authorities. The latest incident adds to a growing list of similar occurrences across Europe — with airports in Denmark, Norway, and Poland having faced comparable disruptions.

Several European nations, including Romania and Estonia, have accused Russia of being behind these drone intrusions, though Moscow has denied any involvement.

Germany, a key NATO ally supporting Ukraine, has reported multiple cases of unidentified UAVs hovering over military bases, industrial zones, and other critical sites. Earlier in October, drone sightings twice forced Munich Airport to suspend operations, affecting thousands of passengers.

As drone activity continues to challenge airport security, officials are under increasing pressure to strengthen detection and response mechanisms to prevent potential risks to aviation safety.