Déjà Vu at Riga Airport: Europe’s Escalating Drone Challenge and Countermeasures in 2025

January 27, 2025 | Marina Aibinder

On the evening of January 13, 2025, Riga International Airport faced a significant drone incident that disrupted operations for over an hour, echoing a similar but less severe event from June 2023. In this latest occurrence, multiple unidentified drones caused a 30-minute airport lockdown, forced the diversion of three flights, and delayed dozens more. This incident highlights the persistent and evolving drone threats to airport safety across Europe, particularly considering recent regulatory changes and technological advancements. 

Riga Airport, Latvia

The 2025 incident at Riga Airport involved more drones and caused more significant disruptions than its 2023 predecessor. On June 14, 2023, the airport was briefly shut down for half an hour due to a flying object spotted over the airfield. Air traffic controllers suspended all outbound and inbound flights after a pilot reported a suspicious object hovering over the landing strip, affecting three inbound flights before the airport reopened. The recurrence and escalation of such incidents underscore the growing challenge faced by airports in managing drone threats and the increasing importance of advanced drone countermeasures.

The January 2025 incident’s impact was substantial:

  • An airBaltic flight from Sofia and a Wizzair flight from Kutaisi were redirected to Vilnius Airport.
  • A Finnair flight from Helsinki was forced to return to its origin.
  • Numerous other flights experienced delays, including departures from Riga Airport.

The Civil Aviation Agency of Latvia has asked the State Police and the State Security Service to investigate, suspecting deliberate attempts to jeopardize civil aviation safety or disrupt Latvia’s aviation sector.

Europe’s Escalating Drone Challenge

This incident is not an isolated occurrence but part of a broader European challenge. In recent months, mysterious drones have been regularly spotted over military bases in the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany. Additionally, In September 2024, Stockholm Arlanda Airport in Sweden halted flights for over two hours due to multiple drone sightings. December 2024 saw Frankfurt Airport reporting a series of near misses between drones and commercial aircraft, highlighting the ongoing safety risks.

These incidents demonstrate the increasing frequency and sophistication of drone-related threats to critical infrastructure and highlight the urgent need for robust drone countermeasures and advanced solutions in the aviation sector. The risks have escalated further with DJI’s removal of geofencing restrictions in Europe, potentially increasing the risk of unauthorized drone flights near sensitive locations like airports.

Travelers waiting to board a Ryanair plane and experience cancellations due to drones.

Travelers waiting to board a Ryanair plane and experience cancellations due to drone threats.

The Growing Need for Enhanced Drone Countermeasures

European airports are at the forefront of efforts to mitigate drone risks while ensuring uninterrupted operations. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has been proactive in addressing the drone threat. In 2021, EASA published comprehensive guidelines for managing drone incidents near airports, which are now being revised in light of recent technological advancements.

As airports grapple with this escalating challenge, several key areas require focus:

  1. Harmonized European Response: The recent drone incidents at Riga Airport and military bases in Germany highlight the need for a coordinated approach to counter-drone measures across Europe. The upcoming European Drone Forum in February 2025 presents an opportunity for stakeholders to align strategies to address this growing threat.
  2. Enhanced Training and Simulation: Airports must invest in regular staff training and realistic drone incident simulations to ensure readiness.
  3. Advanced Detection Systems: Tested and proven RF-based, cyber-centric detection technology could provide accurate and comprehensive drone identification in complex airport environments. These systems can precisely locate unauthorized drones and their operators in real-time, even in busy airspaces. By minimizing false positives, advanced RF detection provides reliable drone identification without unnecessary disruptions to airport operations.
  4. Non-Kinetic Mitigation: Advanced RF-based solutions can provide a safe and effective way to neutralize rogue drones without causing collateral damage. When allowed, these systems can take control of unauthorized drones, safely landing them or redirecting them to their operators, helping to protect aircraft, passengers, and airport infrastructure while effectively addressing the threat.
  5. Regulatory Compliance: Latvia’s Ministry of Transport is reviewing existing legal norms and improving cooperation procedures between involved parties to ensure faster response to drone incidents. This approach aims to enhance the ability of the Civil Aviation Agency and other institutions to respond effectively to drone threats while adhering to aviation safety standards. In this vein, counter-drone technologies must align with aviation safety standards. 

The recurring drone incidents at Riga Airport and across Europe serve as a reminder of the dynamic threat landscape facing the aviation industry in 2025. As drone technology continues to advance, so too must drone countermeasures for safe and controlled detection, mitigation, and outcomes.

As airports like Riga continue to face drone-related challenges, advanced drone defense counter-UAS solutions will be instrumental in ensuring operational continuity and passenger safety. The aviation industry must remain vigilant and adaptive, embracing innovative technologies and strategies to stay ahead of evolving drone threats.

Marina is the Sales Director for D-Fend’s CIS and Eastern European markets. In addition to her extensive knowledge of counter-drone technologies, Marina has over 24 years of experience within the telecommunications, RF technology, and cyber technology industries. Before joining D-Fend, she held management positions at Corning as Business Development and Sales Director, Celebrite as Executive Sales Director, and for ASOCS as Vice President of Sales.

Subscribe to email updates

Sign up here to receive the latest news, upcoming events, webinars and industry best practice resources

Most Popular

Our Bloggers

VIEW ALL >