The incident halted arrivals and departures between 8:08 p.m. and 9:58 p.m. CET, affecting 20–25 flights and thousands of passengers.

Police searched the area using a helicopter and ground patrols but found no drones or operators.

Flights Halted After Drone Sightings

An airport official first reported a drone above the northern runway around 8:00 p.m. CET, prompting an alert that escalated to a full suspension of take-offs and landings eight minutes later.

The airport declared an emergency, diverting inbound traffic to Hamburg, Düsseldorf, and other German hubs.

No take-offs occurred during the roughly two-hour shutdown, and operations gradually resumed after 10:00 p.m.

Passenger and Airline Impact

At least 20–25 incoming flights were diverted, and outbound services delayed or canceled, causing widespread congestion in terminals.

Travelers described chaotic scenes as announcements cited “drone activity.” BER handles millions of passengers monthly, and even brief closures impose heavy logistical and financial costs on airlines and ground crews.

Authorities Investigate “Hybrid Threat”

Brandenburg state police confirmed the sightings and launched an investigation but said no drones were recovered.

The airport called the halt a “precautionary measure” under aviation safety rules prohibiting drones within 1.5 kilometers of airports. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt called for stronger detection and interception systems, describing such incidents as a “hybrid threat.”

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has previously linked similar disruptions to Russia, though no evidence supports that claim in this case.

Pattern Across European Airspace

The event follows two drone-induced shutdowns at Munich Airport in early October and similar cases in Copenhagen, Oslo, Warsaw, and London since September.

Germany’s air traffic control recorded 172 suspicious drone incidents near airfields through September 2025, up from 129 in 2024, reflecting a surge in unauthorized flights over sensitive zones.