A reported drone forced Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) to halt all take-offs and landings on the evening of 23 September. Both runways were closed for around 45 minutes, several flights diverted to Dresden and Leipzig, and operations resumed at 21:05.
What we know
According to the airport and German federal police, a drone was reported at about 20:00 over the northern runway. German air navigation services first suspended movements there before closing the southern runway as well at 20:20. Operations resumed at 21:05.
Several witnesses reported seeing the object. At least five flights diverted to Dresden and Leipzig, while other services were delayed. Authorities have not established whether it was a recreational drone, a deliberate incursion or another object. No hostile link has been confirmed.
Why it matters
The incident comes amid a sharp rise in drone reports around German airports. Figures from DFS cited by German media indicate that BER recorded 28 reports in the first half of 2026, compared with eight in all of 2025. Seven incidents have already required temporary traffic interruptions this year.
Even an unconfirmed drone sighting can force an airport to stop arrivals and departures to protect aircraft on approach or during take-off, triggering diversions, knock-on delays and aircraft or crew repositioning.
What to watch
Federal police are investigating the origin of the report and the possible operator. Traffic has resumed, but residual disruption can continue after such a closure.
Sources
Berlin Brandenburg Airport; German federal police; Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS); dpa; Deutsche Welle; Anadolu Agency.
Why even a short drone sighting can stop an airport
Airports cannot assume that an unidentified object will remain outside protected areas. A temporary suspension gives authorities time to assess the threat, protect arriving and departing aircraft and restore operations only once the risk is judged manageable.
Related: Brussels-Zaventem: drone detected for a second evening, another recent case where drone activity affected airport operations.
