Drone alarm on Lake Constance: Zeppelin endangered by quadrocopters!

Drone alarm on Lake Constance: Zeppelin endangered by quadrocopters!

Yesterday, November 5, 2025, a dangerous incident occurred in the airspace over Friedrichshafen. During a training flight of a Zeppelin, the crew noticed a drone moving dangerously close to the airship at an altitude of around 350 meters. According to reports from the Südkuriers The drone followed the zeppelin at a constant distance, causing worrying moments. The tower employees immediately informed the police, who are now investigating the danger to air traffic and are looking for witnesses.

The drone was identified as a commercially available quadcopter. The police assume that the pilot lost track of his device. If there is a risk of violating the drone rules, the person responsible could face high fines or even criminal consequences. Hobby pilots in particular are encouraged to inform themselves extensively about the applicable regulations in order to avoid such incidents. In this specific case, the search for the drone pilot has so far been unsuccessful; the police are asking for information on 07541/2074-0.

Increased vigilance due to international conflicts

The incident in Friedrichshafen awakens memories of similar incidents that, in a different form, are also causing an international stir. On Wednesday night, at least 19 Russian drones violated Polish airspace, putting politicians in Berlin on alert. Reports According to Chancellor Friedrich Merz, this approach was condemned as a “reckless provocation”. Although the Bundeswehr has stationed two units of the “Patriot” air defense system in southeastern Poland, it remains largely powerless in the current drone conflict.

These incidents show the increasing threat posed by drones, which apparently cannot be ignored in Germany. Chancellor Merz said Germany was facing a new threat, while the Federal Criminal Police Office registered over 500 suspicious drone flights over military installations and critical infrastructure in the first three months of 2025. The mission-critical locations include the Nordholz air base and the Wilhelmshaven naval base. Drones can be used anywhere, be it for espionage, as a weapon or to disrupt air traffic, which, among other things, means that strict regulations apply in such zones.

Drone defense in Germany

In response to these threats, various institutions are working to improve drone defense in Germany. The Fraunhofer Institute is developing a drone defense system to support the police in their work, while the federal government plans to modernize its air defense capabilities. professionals also point out the urgent need to introduce mobile systems such as the Skyranger. The plan is to also adapt the legal framework so that the Bundeswehr can act more efficiently in the area of ​​drone defense.

In view of these developments, it becomes clear that there is considerable potential for danger from drones, not only internationally, but also in everyday air traffic. The incident over Friedrichshafen could be a wake-up call reminding us all that airspace security must be taken seriously.