Drone Sightings Halt Flights at Hanover Airport

Air traffic at Hanover Airport was temporarily disrupted after multiple unidentified drones were detected in restricted airspace, forcing authorities to suspend operations late Friday, officials confirmed.

The airport was closed from 9:47 pm local time until 12:16 am on Saturday as a precautionary measure to ensure passenger and aviation safety. During the shutdown, seven incoming flights were diverted to alternative airports, including Bremen, Düsseldorf and Frankfurt.

Several connections, notably services to Frankfurt and Paris, were cancelled, while two aircraft were unable to land in Hanover and subsequently could not depart as scheduled.

Local media reported that at least five drones were spotted in the area. The first was seen at an altitude of around 80 meters near a model aerodrome close to the airport, with additional drones later approaching the airport perimeter itself. The origin and operators of the drones remain unknown.

The incident adds to a growing series of drone-related disruptions affecting airports across Germany and parts of central and northern Europe. In recent months, similar sightings have briefly halted flights at Munich Airport during the Oktoberfest period and at Berlin Brandenburg Airport.

German security agencies have warned of a sharp rise in suspicious drone activity, often near airports, military installations and other critical infrastructure.

Authorities are also investigating whether such incidents form part of broader hybrid threats, including cyberattacks and sabotage attempts, though officials stress that responsibility cannot yet be established with certainty.