Authorities at Sofia Airport reported three new drone sightings overnight, adding to a series of recent incidents that have repeatedly disrupted the airspace around Bulgaria’s largest international airport.
According to airport officials, the drones were detected late Sunday night and early Monday morning by the airport’s surveillance systems. The sightings occurred at 11:03 p.m., 11:27 p.m., and 12:15 a.m., raising renewed concerns over aviation safety in the area.
Officials from Vasil Levski Sofia Airport confirmed the incidents to local broadcaster bTV, noting that the unmanned aerial vehicles appeared within the airport’s controlled airspace. Despite the sightings, no aircraft were diverted during this latest episode.
However, one flight arriving from Brussels experienced a delay due to the drone activity. The aircraft landed 11 minutes later than originally scheduled as air traffic controllers monitored the situation to ensure safe landing conditions.
The latest drone sightings come just days after similar incidents forced aircraft to change course while approaching Sofia. Authorities have been closely monitoring the situation amid growing concerns over repeated disturbances near the airport.
On Saturday afternoon, a passenger plane arriving from London was forced to divert and land in the city of Plovdiv after a drone was spotted near Sofia Airport. The diversion was carried out as a precautionary measure to ensure passenger safety.
Earlier the same day, another flight traveling from Cologne had to alter its landing plans due to a drone detected in the vicinity. The aircraft was redirected to Varna Airport, located on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast.
These back-to-back incidents sparked questions about airport security and the growing challenge of drone activity near major aviation hubs. Drones operating near airports can pose significant risks to aircraft, particularly during critical phases of flight such as takeoff and landing.
Confusion also emerged over whether drones had actually been present during the Saturday incidents. Chief Commissioner Lyubomir Nikolov, director of the Sofia Directorate of Internal Affairs, initially stated that no unmanned aerial vehicles had been detected that day.
At the same time, Sofia Airport’s press center reported that surveillance systems had indeed registered two drones in the area. The differing accounts led to further scrutiny and prompted authorities to review the data gathered by monitoring systems.
Nikolov later clarified that on Saturday, March 7, the duty unit of the Sofia Directorate had received a report about a drone flying over the airport’s airspace. Police and border officers subsequently launched checks in the area.
During their investigation, officers identified a foreign citizen near the airport perimeter. According to authorities, the individual has been an employee of a well-known German airline since 2008.
When questioned, officers discovered that the man was carrying a radio device and a camera. These items raised suspicion given the ongoing concerns about drone activity near the airport.
However, the individual explained that he was using the equipment to monitor communications from the radar tower. According to his statement, he listens to information about aircraft takeoffs and landings in order to prepare for photographing planes.
Authorities said the man claimed he participates in online aviation photography competitions and takes professional photographs of aircraft as a hobby. Officials described the activity as amateur aviation spotting rather than a security threat.
Despite this explanation, investigators are continuing to examine whether there is any connection between the aviation enthusiast and the recent drone sightings.
Airport authorities emphasized that drones flying near airports remain a serious safety issue. Even small unmanned aerial vehicles can cause damage to aircraft engines or interfere with flight operations.
In recent years, airports across Europe have faced increasing challenges related to unauthorized drone activity. Several major airports have temporarily suspended operations due to drones appearing near runways or flight paths.
Officials at Sofia Airport say they are working closely with law enforcement agencies to identify the operators responsible for the drones detected in recent days.
Security measures and surveillance systems remain in place as authorities continue to monitor the airspace above the airport.
Investigators are also reviewing radar data, surveillance footage, and reports from pilots to determine the exact locations and flight paths of the drones.
For now, airport officials say operations at Sofia Airport continue normally, though authorities remain on heightened alert following the repeated incidents.
The investigation into the drone activity is ongoing as officials seek to prevent further disruptions and ensure the safety of passengers and aircraft using Bulgaria’s busiest airport.