Berlin Airport Resumes Flights After Drone Disruption

Berlin-Brandenburg Airport resumed normal operations Saturday after a drone sighting forced a brief shutdown Friday evening. The incident highlights a growing problem across German airports, where unauthorized drones are causing more frequent disruptions to air traffic.

Airport officials confirmed that all flight restrictions have been lifted. The shutdown lasted less than two hours Friday evening, but several flights had to be diverted during that time.

To make up for the delays, the airport extended its operating hours beyond the usual schedule. Planes were allowed to take off until 2 AM and land throughout the night. Five departing flights took advantage of these extended hours.

This wasn't an isolated incident. Munich Airport, Germany's second-largest, faced similar disruptions in early October due to unauthorized drone activity. These events are becoming more common across the country.

For airlines and passengers, drone incidents create costly ripple effects. Diverted flights mean higher fuel costs, crew scheduling problems, and passenger compensation claims. Airports also face pressure to balance security measures with keeping operations running smoothly.

German aviation authorities are dealing with a tricky situation. They need to protect airspace from potential threats while minimizing economic damage from shutdowns. Each closure affects thousands of passengers and costs airlines significant money in delays and diversions.

The frequency of these incidents suggests this isn't just random hobbyist activity. Security experts are watching whether there's a pattern to these drone appearances at major German airports.