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Drone over Gothenburg: Flight operations paralyzed, Germans fly over!
Drones over Gothenburg-Landvetter: Impact on German flights and the investigation of air traffic disruptions.
Drone over Gothenburg: Flight operations paralyzed, Germans fly over!
An unexpected incident occurred today at Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport in Sweden: one or more drones were spotted, which led to the immediate suspension of air traffic. The responsible operator, Luftfartsverket, confirmed the closure of the airspace over the airport. Two flights from Germany – one from Munich and one from Frankfurt – had to be diverted due to this situation. The flights were reportedly sent to Copenhagen. Flights from Gothenburg to Munich and Frankfurt were canceled, causing great difficulties for travelers. Radio Erft also reports that there have been similar incidents at various airports in NATO countries in recent weeks, including in Copenhagen, where flight chaos was the result of drone sightings.
The problem at German airports should not be underestimated. According to a study by the German Aerospace Center (DLR), unmanned aircraft can significantly disrupt regular air traffic. In 2024, the Federal Aviation Office (LBA) was provided with data on 118 incidents, nine of which led to serious disruptions to air traffic. These disruptions caused economic damage of around 500,000 euros. The average duration of the full closures was 32 minutes, with drone sightings often resulting in disruptions lasting more than an hour. Heise emphasizes that minor disruptions such as the closure of individual slopes also occurred frequently.
Why is this so problematic? The economic impact is not just limited to airports. Airlines face increased fuel costs and additional landing fees. Although there were no flight cancellations in the cases examined, the consequences can be significant. DLR boss Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla warned of the need to better document drone sightings in order to identify the operational and economic effects at an early stage.
These incidents are not new: in December 2018, London Gatwick Airport was closed for 33 hours, causing damage of around 100 million euros. Two months ago, Munich Airport also experienced a similar situation that affected 3,000 passengers. The DLR analyzes show that even short operational restrictions can have far-reaching consequences.
In general, it remains to be seen how the authorities will react to the repeated threatening incidents and what measures will be taken to ensure safety in the airspace. The developments are definitely exciting - also for all travelers from Cologne and the surrounding area who want to arrive abroad safely.