Drone sighting halts Berlin Airport, flights diverted

Berlin Airport experienced a significant disruption to its flight schedule late Friday after drone sightings near the airfield prompted a temporary halt to all operations. According to the flight tracking service Flightradar24, the suspension led to the diversion of over two dozen aircraft to alternate airports before the situation was resolved and normal service resumed.

Scope of the Disruption

The exact duration of the operational pause was not immediately specified by airport authorities. However, the impact was substantial, with Flightradar24 noting on social media platform X that a significant number of flights were affected, requiring them to land elsewhere. This event underscores the growing challenge that unauthorized drones pose to critical transportation infrastructure.

A Recurring Security Challenge

This incident at the German capital's airport is not an isolated one. It adds to a series of similar airspace violations by drones reported across various European nations in recent months. These recurring incidents highlight persistent security vulnerabilities and have sparked ongoing discussions about implementing more robust counter-drone measures to protect air traffic.