Drone disabilities in the sky: German air traffic control warns of dangers

Von Kl Redaktion

75 incidents with drones affect air traffic

Berlin (dpa) - In the first six months of this year, 75 cases were reported in German airspace in which drones affected air traffic. This reflects approximately the number of 72 incidents in the same period of the previous year, as an inquiry from German Air Trailer (DFS) in Berlin showed. Over the last year there were a total of 151 cases of drone impairments.

More than three quarters of the incidents this year occurred in the area around an airport. Most of the incidents were registered with ten reports on the largest German airport in Berlin. This was followed by the airports in Munich and Hamburg with nine and seven incidents. The airports in Frankfurt and Cologne/Bonn recorded six or five incidents.

The viewing of drones can lead to the air traffic at the affected airport must be temporarily stopped, as a spokesman for the DFS explained. It is particularly problematic when drones are spotted in the approach area of ​​an airport, as this is a direct danger to starting and landing aircraft.

Air traffic control takes every message of a drone sighting seriously, since the distraction of pilots and pilots can lead to dangerous situations alone. Drone flights near airports are strictly prohibited in Germany and are viewed as a criminal intervention in air traffic. The punishments for such violations can result in imprisonment of up to ten years.

- Nag