Drone nightmare for Stuttgart Airport: security risk grows!

Drone nightmare for Stuttgart Airport: security risk grows!

Stuttgart Airport is the focus when it comes to the topic of drones. According to a current report from German Air Traffic Control (DFS), six drone disruptions have been recorded at Stuttgart Airport so far this year. In a nationwide comparison, only the airports in Frankfurt, Cologne/Bonn and Düsseldorf are affected by such incidents more frequently. By the end of August 2025, there were a total of 144 registered drone disruptions in Germany - a significant increase compared to previous years, in which only 113 and 99 disruptions were reported. The situation at Frankfurt Airport is particularly worrying, where 35 disabilities have already been registered in 2025 alone, as SWR reports.

The number of unreported drones flying in restricted airspace could be much higher. Air traffic at German airports had to be stopped several times due to such incidents - in the first eight months of 2024 alone there were 81 disruptions, including seven in which air traffic came to a standstill for a short time. A stop to the work on the systematic detection of drones, which should actually ensure more security at the airport, is also beyond the considerations, the financing issues still need to be clarified, reports Tagesschau.

Drone flights and their risks

The problem with drones near airports is serious because the law strictly prohibits drone flights within 1.5 kilometers of airports. Violations of these regulations can be punished with prison sentences of up to ten years. The Association of Airport Operators, ADV, has pointed out that better drone detection equipment is urgently needed. ADV Managing Director Ralph Beisel emphasizes that airports often do not know whether the drones are being piloted by amateur pilots or as part of a hybrid threat. Danish authorities have even suggested a possible connection between drone incidents in Copenhagen and provocations from Russia.

The idea of ​​an improved drone detection system is supported by various sources. For example, the Helmut Schmidt University of the Bundeswehr has developed a drone interception system called “Falke”, which was financed by 1.8 million euros in funding. This system shows that innovative approaches are also being pursued in combating the drone threat. A startup is working on making the development a market success.

A call to action

The CDU transport politician Björn Simon has criticized the federal government for its inadequate reactions and warns of an increasing threat to public safety in Germany. It is becoming increasingly clear that coordinated and rapid action is necessary to ensure security at airports. The need to better monitor drones in the airspace is becoming increasingly louder. This is the only way to prevent us from being further affected by the disruption to air traffic.

A good knack for finding the right solution is now required. Airports and the responsible authorities must work together to get the current challenges under control. It is high time that airspace safety was prioritized over the leisure activities of some hobby pilots.