GermanyTravel Travellers to Berlin face delays and diversions after drone closes airspace for an hour
Berlin Brandenburg Airport suspended flights on the evening of 23 September after a drone was spotted on its northern runway. Airspace reopened about an hour later, but flights remained delayed and several were diverted to Dresden.
Flights at Berlin Brandenburg Airport were briefly suspended on Wednesday evening after a drone was seen on the runway, according to airport and police officials. The airport's airspace was closed and take-offs and landings stopped for at least 45 minutes, with several aircraft diverted elsewhere before operations restarted.
Key facts
- Date: Wednesday, 23 September 2026
- Time of sighting: 8:00 p.m. (1800 GMT), on the airport's northern runway
- Duration: airspace closed for at least 45 minutes
- Reopening: as of 9:05 p.m., airspace was open again but flights were delayed
- Diverted flights: several were sent to Dresden
What happened?
A drone was spotted on the northern runway of Berlin Brandenburg Airport at 8:00 p.m. local time, airport and police officials said. The airspace above the airport was closed minutes later, and flight operations were suspended for at least 45 minutes.
Several flights were diverted to Dresden while the airport was closed. Airspace reopened by 9:05 p.m., but flights continued to experience delays.
How common are drone sightings at Berlin's airport?
Drone sightings have become a regular occurrence at European airports, and Berlin's airport recorded the highest number of sightings in Germany in the first part of the year, according to German air traffic control (DFS).
DFS figures show 28 drone sightings were recorded at the airport during the first six months of the year. In seven of those cases, flight operations were temporarily suspended. That compares with eight drones detected at the airport and its surroundings during the whole of 2025, according to DFS.
What this means for travellers
Passengers travelling through Berlin Brandenburg Airport on 23 September faced delays after the closure, and some flights landed in Dresden instead of Berlin. Travellers affected by the diversion or by delayed departures should check the status of their specific flight with their airline.
Given the increase in drone sightings recorded by DFS at the airport, travellers flying to or from Berlin may want to allow extra time and confirm flight information before heading to the airport.