On the night of October 8, 2025, an unknown drone flew over the NATO airbase in Geilenkirchen, Germany. This is the main hub for NATO’s AWACS surveillance aircraft, which keep eyes on the eastern front, especially near Russia.
The drone entered restricted airspace and hovered over the runway for about a minute before disappearing. The base went on high alert. Troops searched the area and found nothing. The incident was quickly reported to civilian police. Security protocols were immediately tightened.
The News / This was part of a wave of drone sightings across Europe. And the pattern is raising serious red flags. Since September, several NATO countries have reported strange drone flights over critical military and civilian sites.
In Poland, on September 10, a swarm of 19 drones entered the country’s airspace during a Russian strike on Ukraine. Fighter jets were scrambled. Some drones were shot down. The Polish Prime Minister described it as the most dangerous moment since World War II.
Denmark faced chaos between September 22 and 28. Large drones shut down Copenhagen Airport for nearly four hours. Officials called it a direct attack on the country’s critical infrastructure. Other airports and military sites in Norway and Denmark also faced disruptions.
Germany Hit Again
The Geilenkirchen incident isn’t the only one in Germany. Earlier in October, Munich Airport shut down twice in one week due to drone sightings. Thousands of travelers were stranded. Drones have also been seen over power plants and hospitals. Even a shipyard in northern Germany wasn’t spared.
Officials are nervous. The pattern is hard to ignore. These aren't hobby drones or lost toys. They are flying with precision over high-value targets.
Belgium, Estonia, the Netherlands, France, and Lithuania have all reported similar cases. In each instance, the targets were serious: airbases, government facilities, or energy plants.
NATO sees this as a direct test of its security and unity. The repeated nature of the incidents suggests an organized, rather than random, pattern.
Who Could Be Behind It?
Most fingers point to Russia. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz openly blamed Moscow. He said, “Our assumption is that Russia is behind most of these drone flights.” Other leaders agree.
E Online / Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Commission, warned that these flights are meant to unsettle the public and shake Europe’s unity.
Russia, of course, denies everything. President Putin laughed off the accusations and joked about drones. Russian media have pushed alternative stories, blaming Ukraine or even Western spy agencies. NATO officials say this is a classic disinformation trick to confuse and divide.
NATO Reacts
After the Denmark drone scare, the alliance moved fast. The German frigate FGS Hamburg is now patrolling the Baltic Sea. AWACS planes are flying regular missions under a new operation called "Eastern Sentry."
Germany recently passed a new law giving police more power to shoot down or jam drones. They can now use laser systems or signal blockers to stop them before they get close to restricted zones.
At the same time, Sweden’s new anti-drone tech, called "Loke," is already in use. It is being tested in Poland to protect NATO bases and logistics hubs. These tools are not just for show. Europe is gearing up for a new kind of warfare.
The Geilenkirchen incident proves how vulnerable even the most protected sites can be. A single drone, flying low and quiet, was able to get into one of NATO’s key airbases.