Drone Sighting Halts Flights at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
Amsterdam, Netherlands – The Polderbaan runway at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport was temporarily closed for approximately 45 minutes this afternoon following multiple reports of a drone flying in the vicinity, disrupting air traffic. The closure began around 12:10 PM local time after pilots reported the drone to air traffic control, observing it at an altitude of roughly 150 meters.
The incident underscores the ongoing threat drones pose to airport security and operations globally. While the drone and it’s operator were not located despite a search involving police helicopters, the temporary shutdown of a key runway at one of Europe’s busiest airports highlights the potential for meaningful disruption. Aircraft were diverted to the Zwanenburgbaan during the closure, which ended around 1:00 PM.
Pilots reported the drone flying as close as fifty meters to a Transavia aircraft, according to a live stream from an airplane spotter on youtube. The Marechaussee, the Dutch military police, believes the drone was likely operated by a hobbyist and described the incident as “fairly unique” in terms of its impact on air traffic.
Flying drones near Schiphol Airport is prohibited due to the inherent danger to aircraft. The incident comes after similar disruptions at airports in Denmark and Oslo last week, where drone sightings led to closures and prompted the Danish government to consider the events a potential security threat.Authorities have not yet identified the type of drone involved in today’s incident.
