German Airlines Call for Authorization to Down Drones Over Airports Amid Rising Incidents
As the number of drone incursions into airport zones and military facilities continues to increase, German airlines are openly urging the government to implement stricter measures to address this threat.
Representatives of the Federal Airline Association insist that in order to ensure safety, there must be the ability to shoot down drones, especially when there is a perceived threat to human lives or high-tech infrastructure.
Peter Gerber, President of the German Federal Association of Airlines, emphasizes that in such situations, authorities need the rights to swiftly and effectively respond, preventing potential disasters.
Legislative initiatives are already underway — the German government has approved amendments to laws allowing the shooting down of drones, awaiting parliamentary approval.
This situation is reported by Spiegel on October 11.
The rising number of drone incidents at airports is pushing authorities to improve countermeasures against unmanned aircraft.
This year, a special drone interdiction unit has been added to federal police forces, and a dedicated drone counteraction center is planned to start operating in 2025, jointly created by federal and state governments.
This center aims to be a key element in aviation security.
The government considers the detection and neutralization of drones as essential sovereignty tasks for the country’s security and terrorism prevention.
Gerber also notes that police should have the authority to halt and, if necessary, shoot down dangerous drones at civil airports, as the cost of just one-hour work disruption can amount to millions in losses.
Growing concerns also surround secret military facilities, from which unknown drones increasingly fly, raising alarm among intelligence agencies and defense structures.
Although Germany’s legal framework limits authorities’ responses—due to historic restrictions designed to prevent a repeat of Nazi past—these barriers hinder effective reactions to modern threats, particularly in light of increasing Russian drone activity in German airspace, which tests the country’s defense resilience.
Despite the lack of concrete evidence of armed drones, intelligence suspects they may be used for espionage, adding complexity to the security landscape.