Drone flights over Bundeswehr site: police investigate pilots
The police have investigated five cases of amateur pilots who flew over Bundeswehr grounds. They now face severe penalties.
(Image: Dmitry Kalinovsky/Shutterstock.com)
Police in Wilhelmshaven have been able to track down the pilots in five cases following drone flights over Bundeswehr security areas. According to various media reports, fears that espionage activities by other countries such as Russia could be behind the overflights have not materialized. However, there will be repercussions for the drone pilots. They are being investigated for violating air traffic regulations and on suspicion of spying on security-relevant areas.
There had already been several sightings of drone overflights in northern Germany in March. Critical infrastructure and military facilities throughout Germany were affected, including the naval base in Wilhelmshaven and the airbase in Nordholz. The cases that have now been clarified concern the naval arsenal in Wilhelmshaven, where ships are repaired and refitted. Unlike the base, which is located on the outskirts of the city, it is close to the city center and is partially surrounded by residential buildings.
Amateur pilots at the controls
The civilian drone pilots who have now been identified were predominantly "without any recognizable professional background". According to the police, there are no indications of "a direct intelligence or military connection".
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In mid-May, police in the city had already identified a 20-year-old as a drone pilot who flew his DJI drone over a military security area. The young man stated that he was carrying out test flights in order to later work in film production. According to the police, his flight violated Section 109g of the German Criminal Code (Prohibited image recordings) and Section 62 of the German Air Traffic Act (Prohibited use of airspace).
Police: inform in advance
The police point out that drone pilots are obliged to inform themselves in advance about the applicable regulations. Flying over sensitive areas such as military bases, industrial plants or gatherings of people could even constitute a criminal offense. In this context, the authorities refer to an interactive map of the Federal Ministry of Transport, which shows current and permanently valid flight restrictions.
(mki)
