Drone sighting disrupts flights at Hanover airport

On August 12, 2026, air traffic at Hanover Airport in Langenhagen, Germany, was suspended for nearly two hours due to an unauthorized drone sighting. The airport runways were closed between 3:44 a.m. and 5:20 a.m., resulting in flight departure delays and the diversion of a commercial flight from Paris to Nuremberg. The Central Criminal Investigation Department of Hanover has launched an investigation into the incident, though both local police and the German Federal Ministry of the Interior have declined to provide further comments.

This event follows a series of security incidents involving unidentified drones in Germany. Last week, a drone carrying explosives was discovered near a Ukrainian cargo plane at Leipzig/Halle Airport, a facility frequently used for military equipment transit to Ukraine. Additionally, two other drones were recently spotted over a German military base in the western part of the country. These recurring sightings have heightened concerns regarding potential external threats and the security of critical infrastructure, though authorities have yet to issue official findings on the nature of the Hanover disruption.