Europe's air travel network has been plunged into chaos following the complete shutdown of three major international airports due to repeated drone incursions. Gatwick Airport in the UK, Amsterdam's Schiphol, and Berlin Brandenburg in Germany all suspended operations simultaneously, creating a perfect storm of travel disruption affecting tens of thousands of passengers.
The crisis began early Tuesday morning when air traffic controllers at London Gatwick reported the first unidentified drone sighting near the runway. Within hours, similar incidents were reported at both Schiphol and Berlin Brandenburg, forcing aviation authorities to take the unprecedented step of halting all flight operations.
Travel Chaos Across the Continent
Passengers faced massive disruption as airlines were forced to cancel or divert flights. Long queues formed at information desks as travellers scrambled to find alternative arrangements. Social media quickly filled with images of stranded passengers sleeping on terminal floors and crowded departure halls.
"This is the worst travel disruption I've experienced in years," said one frustrated passenger at Gatwick. "We were due to fly to Spain for a family wedding, and now we have no idea when we'll get there."
Security Services on High Alert
Police and security services across all three countries have launched major investigations into the coordinated nature of the incidents. Aviation experts are particularly concerned by the sophistication of the drone operations, which appeared to target multiple major airports simultaneously.
An aviation security expert told Metro: "The coordinated nature of these incidents suggests this was a planned operation rather than random recreational drone use. The ability to disrupt three major European hubs simultaneously represents a significant escalation in aviation security threats."
Previous Incidents and Growing Concerns
This isn't the first time drones have caused major airport disruptions. Gatwick Airport experienced a similar crisis in December 2018 that lasted for 36 hours and affected approximately 140,000 passengers. The new incidents have reignited concerns about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to drone interference.
Aviation authorities are now reviewing emergency protocols while stranded passengers face an uncertain wait. Airport officials have advised all travellers to check with their airlines before heading to any of the affected airports and warned that disruption is likely to continue throughout the day.
