Berlin airport briefly suspends operations because of drone spotted nearby

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), Berlin's main airport, temporarily suspended operations on the evening of Wednesday 23 September after an unidentified drone was spotted near the runway.

Source: Bild, citing the airport's press service

Details: The press service said a drone alert was issued at Berlin Brandenburg Airport: the drone was spotted at 20:00, and the airspace over the airport was closed at 20:20.

Operations at the airport were suspended for at least 45 minutes.

Several flights were diverted to Dresden and Leipzig.

A Federal Police spokesperson told Bild that several people had spotted the drone at the airport.

The pilot of a plane diverted to Leipzig reportedly even mentioned three drone sightings. A woman who had been a passenger on the plane also confirmed this in a conversation with Bild.

Background:

• In early September, a warning was issued at Berlin Brandenburg Airport over an "unidentified substance".
• In November 2025, flights at Berlin Brandenburg Airport were also suspended for almost two hours after a drone was detected nearby.

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