Concerns are growing regarding the security of German airports, with the newly appointed Chairman of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee (PKGr) in the Bundestag, Marc Henrichmann, cautioning against a sense of complacency. Addressing the Funke-Mediengruppe newspapers, Henrichmann emphasized that airports represent critical infrastructure increasingly vulnerable to hybrid attacks, ranging from drone incursions to cyber threats. He urged a shift away from a false sense of security towards enhanced resilience and more rapid response capabilities.
Henrichmann specifically pointed to the need for decisive advancements in drone detection and countermeasures, highlighting a current deficit in this area, particularly concerning sensitive infrastructure like airports. The PKGr, responsible for overseeing Germany’s intelligence services, conducts its sessions in closed-door sessions.
The concerns are mirrored by developments in Denmark, where the government has publicly characterized recent drone sightings near airports as a “hybrid attack”. Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen suggested the actions are the work of a professional actor, although the responsible party remains unidentified. Following a widespread drone alert at Copenhagen Airport just days prior, further drone sightings occurred late Wednesday evening into Thursday at multiple airports throughout the NATO member state. The airspace above Aalborg Airport, located in northern Denmark, was temporarily closed, impacting several flights and leading to cancellations or diversions.
