Breaking · Flights & Access

Berlin's Airport Got Grounded by a Drone Again Wednesday, Here's Whether You Should Worry About Your Flight Through Germany

A drone shut Berlin Brandenburg's runway for 45 minutes, the airport's seventh such disruption this year. Here's what it means for your Germany…

By Laxman Rawal · Sep 24, 2026

Read the full story

A drone forced Berlin Brandenburg Airport to halt all arrivals and departures for about 45 minutes on Wednesday night, diverting inbound flights to Dresden. It was the airport's seventh drone-related stoppage of 2026. Nobody was hurt, the airspace reopened…

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

Read the full story

What happened at Berlin Brandenburg Wednesday night

Wednesday's shutdown wasn't a one-off — it's the latest in a pattern that's been building for almost a year. Several planes already inbound to Berlin were diverted to Dresden before the airspace reopened around 9:05 p.m., with delays continuing into the…

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

Read the full story

Is this a one-off, or should you expect it again

Expect it again. Berlin Brandenburg has recorded more drone sightings than any other German airport this year, and seven full stoppages in six months works out to roughly one every three to four weeks.

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

Read the full story

What to actually do if you're connecting through Berlin this autumn

Build in more buffer if your connection is tight. These stoppages have run anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours, so a layover under about 90 minutes is genuinely at risk of being missed if a drone sighting happens to land on your travel day — that's the…

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

Read the full story

Why does Berlin have more drone sightings than other German airports

German aviation authorities have not attributed the pattern to a single cause, and not every individual sighting has been explained — we're not going to guess at a reason a source hasn't confirmed. What's established is the count: 28 sightings and seven…

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

Read the full story

Frequently asked questions

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

Read the full story

Is Berlin Brandenburg Airport safe to fly through right now?

Yes. Wednesday's disruption was a precautionary airspace closure, not a security threat, and normal operations resumed the same evening.

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

Read the full story

How often does this happen at Berlin's airport?

Air traffic controllers recorded 28 drone sightings at BER in the first half of 2026 alone, forcing seven full stoppages — more than any other German airport.

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

Read the full story

What happens to my flight if it's diverted because of a drone?

Inbound flights are typically diverted to the nearest suitable airport — Dresden, in Wednesday's case — and either wait out the closure or continue once Berlin's airspace reopens. For travelers using Berlin as a jumping-off point for a longer trip east, the…

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

Read the full story

Plan your trek

Everest Base Camp Trek — 12 Days

NMA-certified guides · permits sorted · 5,000+ treks since 1998.

$1700 pp

Plan this trek

Free guide

Get the free Nepal Trek Insider Guide

Permits, costs, seasons and routes — the essentials we send every traveller, plus a free, no-obligation trip quote.

↑ Swipe up

Your free Nepal trek kit

Read the full report and grab the free Nepal Trek Insider Guide — or ask our Pokhara team for a tailored, no-obligation quote.

Read more & get the free guide Plan my trip — free quote Browse Everest Base Camp Trek — 12 Days