Luxembourg's only airport grounds flights for hours after drone sightings
Luxembourg's sole international airport suspended flight operations for several hours on the evening of September 18 after unauthorized drones were spotted over its grounds. The incident follows a series of similar drone disruptions at European airports.
Luxembourg's only international airport halted flight operations for several hours on the evening of Friday, September 18, after "unauthorized unmanned aircraft" were detected near and directly above its grounds, the airport announced on its website.
According to the airport's statement, the temporary suspension was a precautionary measure taken to protect passengers, airline crews, airport staff and aircraft. No further details about the drones were disclosed.
Part of a wider pattern
The incident adds to a growing list of drone-related disruptions at European airports. In 2025, several countries saw airports pause operations because of unidentified drones, including in Oslo and Copenhagen.
In August 2026, an explosive-laden drone was discovered near Leipzig airport, close to a Ukrainian An-124 cargo aircraft carrying ammunition. It later emerged that multiple drones had been involved in that incident. On September 1, German authorities formally accused Russia of attempting sabotage at the Leipzig airport, an allegation Moscow has denied.
