Who is suspected of operating a drone in restricted zones near Split?

Police identified a 39-year-old German citizen against whom they will file a criminal complaint.

Was air traffic disrupted due to the German citizen's drone flights?

Police have not released this information, so it is unknown whether traffic was affected.

What recently happened with a drone at Split's airport?

A few days ago, a 36-year-old Hungarian blocked St. Jerome Airport with a drone, causing two flights to be canceled and others to be delayed.

Why are drone flights near airports dangerous?

Even a small drone can endanger an aircraft during takeoff or landing, so flying in that area is strictly regulated.

Local

German drone operator endangers air traffic near Split

A.N. · Prije 2h | 2 min

Police identify 39-year-old who flew repeatedly in restricted zones, just days after a Hungarian blocked St. Jerome Airport with a drone.

Summary

Police identified a 39-year-old German who repeatedly flew a drone in restricted zones near Split.
He faces criminal charges for endangering life and property.
Just days earlier, a 36-year-old Hungarian blocked Split's airport with a drone, leading to the cancellation of two flights.

The Split-Dalmatia Police Department announced on Thursday, August 6, 2026, that it had identified a 39-year-old German citizen suspected of repeatedly operating a drone in restricted zones near Split's airport. The search was launched after reports of drone flights in the areas of Trogir and Kaštel Štafilić.

A criminal investigation established reasonable suspicion that the German suspect had operated the aircraft multiple times within no-fly zones over a short period. No information has been released regarding whether his flights caused any disruption to air traffic or how close the drone came to the airport zone. A criminal complaint will be filed with the competent state attorney's office, as he is suspected of committing the criminal offense of endangering life and property by a generally dangerous act or means.

Recent incident with Hungarian who blocked the airport

This case comes just days after a 36-year-old Hungarian citizen blocked Split's airport with a drone. At that time, St. Jerome Airport was forced to halt all traffic because the drone was flying without permission near the runway. Two flights were canceled, and others experienced significant delays.

In that case as well, police launched a criminal investigation, identified, and arrested the Hungarian. Flying drones near airports is extremely dangerous for safety, as even a small drone can harm an aircraft during takeoff or landing. Therefore, flying in that area is only possible with special permits and in compliance with prescribed restrictions.