Cologne airport tightens runway rules after Ryanair jet's drone near-miss

German investigators have released details of a near-collision between a Ryanair Boeing 737-800 and a small military drone close to Cologne-Bonn airport, prompting changes to how runways are managed during military training exercises.

The incident happened on 18 February. The jet had been cleared to land on runway 06, which runs close to an air force barracks used for drone exercises. The investigation authority BFU said the drone pilot was flying an Autel EVO Max 4T, a quadcopter weighing under 2kg, at low altitude when he spotted the approaching airliner. He told investigators he steered the drone upward to avoid a collision while training was underway.

BFU put the closest separation between the two aircraft at about 28 metres vertically and 9 metres horizontally.

The agency's account describes a breakdown in communication between air traffic controllers during a shift change. One controller failed to identify restrictions on instrument approaches within the airspace-management software used to flag military activity, and passed incomplete information to a colleague. Ground personnel had been posted with radios to warn the drone operator of approaching traffic, but this did not prevent the incursion.

After the airprox, the drone exercise was halted and reported to tower staff. Tower staff said they had believed instrument traffic was permitted in the area at the time.

German air navigation authorities have since tightened the rules governing approaches and departures at Cologne-Bonn during military drone activity. A new operating directive takes effect from 1 June. No injuries or damage were reported in connection with the encounter.