Drone sighting briefly closes Berlin Brandenburg Airport’s runways. Controllers recorded 28 drones there in the first half of 2026.

Berlin Brandenburg Airport experienced a brief suspension of operations on August 8, 2026, following the detection of a drone in the vicinity, according to German news agency dpa. The incident occurred at 8 p.m. local time, leading officials from Germany’s air traffic control agency, DFS, to close both the northern and southern runways.

The restrictions were lifted at 9:05 p.m. The Berlin Brandenburg Airport has recorded more drone sightings than any other German airport, with 28 drones detected during the first half of 2026, prompting seven suspensions of arrivals and departures. In comparison, only eight drones were recorded at the airport and its surrounding areas in all of 2025.

In 2026, a drone carrying explosives was discovered at Leipzig Airport near a Ukrainian An-124 transport plane carrying ammunition, although subsequent investigation revealed multiple drones. German authorities formally accused Russia of attempting sabotage at Berlin Brandenburg Airport on September 1, 2026, a claim Moscow denies.

The incident highlights the increasing concern over drone-related security threats at major airports.