Germany reports illegal drone flights over military base

Authorities in Bavaria are investigating the recent sighting of drones over a military airfield in southern Germany, with espionage not ruled out as a potential cause for the unusual activity.

The incident occurred above the Manching Air Base, located near the city of Ingolstadt, on Sunday evening.

Bavarian police were alerted to the presence of the drones, later confirming the presence of up to 10 unmanned aerial vehicles.

Despite efforts to track down those responsible, including the deployment of a police helicopter, the individuals behind the illegal drone flights remain unidentified.

This marks the latest in a series of drone sightings over military zones in the area, including previous incidents in December over both Manching and neighboring Neuburg an der Donau.

Authorities suspect that the drones may have been gathering intelligence by photographing sensitive military sites.

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The Bavaria State Criminal Police Office (LKA) has called on witnesses to come forward with any information that could help identify the perpetrators.

The investigation has been taken over by the Munich Public Prosecutor General’s Office, which handles cases related to terrorism and extremism.

Manching Air Base is home to the German military’s Technical and Airworthiness Centre for Aircraft, where aircraft for the German Air Force are tested, while Neuburg serves as the base for the 74th Tactical Wing, which operates Eurofighter Typhoons to monitor southern German airspace.

Authorities have not ruled out a connection to ongoing tensions related to Russia’s war in Ukraine, with espionage being considered a potential motive behind the drone flights.