Drones sighted at Hannover Airport, flights suspended

Drone sightings over Hannover Airport led to temporary flight disruptions, including diversions and delays, raising significant security concerns. The German Police Union (GdP) has called for the airport to be equipped with more robust drone detection and defense systems.

Patrick Seegers, the state chairman of the GdP, described the repeated drone appearances at an international airport as an "alarm signal for security policy," emphasizing that existing technical systems failed to detect the aircraft. He stressed the need for common standards across Germany for such security measures.

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An alarm signal for security policy

The Federal Police's technical systems were unable to locate the drone, and the German Air Traffic Control's technical positioning efforts also proved unsuccessful. The police union pointed out that security forces operate within the limits of their technical capabilities and legal authority, suggesting the issue lies with "hardware and system deficiencies" rather than the officers themselves.

Christian-Tobias Gerlach, the deputy head of the union, stated that if the systems cannot detect an aircraft, the problem is not with the police on duty but with the equipment. The union also warned that if a foreign state or state-backed entity is behind the drone activity, the threat extends beyond conventional police security. They advocate for a more comprehensive security architecture in Germany to address hybrid threats and are urging a review of the conditions under which the German military could be deployed domestically against serious drone threats.

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hardware and system deficiencies