German police confirmed that a 41-year-old Croatian citizen was arrested on suspicion of operating a drone at Frankfurt Airport, one of Europe’s busiest hubs. The incident, reported by Bild and relayed by Dnevno.hr, occurred on Thursday.
Authorities stated there are no indications of ties between the suspect and Russia, dismissing speculations of potential espionage.
The background of the incident remains unclear, including whether it involved a commercial hobby drone or a larger aerial device. A misdemeanor case has been opened against the suspect.
Thanks to rapid detection systems, the drone was spotted and seized in the western part of the airport, about 700 meters from the runway. Airport operations were not disrupted, according to police spokespersons.
Officials emphasized that the drone flight at Frankfurt’s Rhein-Main Airport is not linked to recent incidents in Munich, where drone sightings had temporarily paralyzed air traffic.
Police noted that the origin of the drone flights and the motive remain unknown, and it is not yet confirmed if this case is related to other drone sightings in Schleswig-Holstein or Denmark.
Growing Drone Concerns in Europe
Drone-related incidents are raising increasing concerns across Europe. Recently, Munich Airport was twice forced to halt operations, leading to delays and diversions of incoming flights. Similar disruptions also occurred in Copenhagen.
Data from Germany’s air traffic control show that Frankfurt Airport has the highest number of drone-related disruptions in the country.
In response, calls for stronger drone protection at airports are growing louder. Hesse’s Interior Minister, Roman Poseck (CDU), has joined the appeal, stressing the urgent need for enhanced security measures.
