German airlines call for permission to shoot down unidentified drones near airports

German airlines are demanding government approval to shoot down unidentified drones near the country’s airports, Peter Gerber, head of the German Airlines Association, said.

Gerber noted that such measures are necessary to ensure aviation safety, as drones near airports pose a serious threat to flights, Caliber.Az reports per Spiegel.

Earlier reports highlighted several incidents involving drones near European airports. On the nights of October 2 and 4, Munich Airport restricted flights after drones were detected near the runway.

Unidentified drone incursions have surged across Europe in 2025, disrupting air travel and raising alarms over potential hybrid warfare, with 172 incidents reported in German airspace from January to September—up 33% from 129 in 2024 and 77% from 121 in 2023, per Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS) data.

These events, often near critical infrastructure, have stranded tens of thousands of passengers and cost airlines millions, amid suspicions of Russian orchestration to test NATO defences without escalation—echoing airspace violations in Poland, Estonia, and Romania. Russia denies involvement.

By Khagan Isayev