The Croatian Civil Aviation Agency (CCAA) has issued a public statement regarding an incident at Dubrovnik Airport. A drone of unknown ownership came within just 200 meters of an aircraft on final approach to the airport. Due to the incident, the airport had to suspend operations, resulting in two flights being diverted to Split (Ryanair flight FR5796 from Stockholm and KLM flight KL1977 from Amsterdam). Both flights later returned to Dubrovnik after the airport reopened.
The full public statement reads as follows:
“On April 13, 2025, near Dubrovnik Airport during final approach for landing, a dangerous proximity of a drone to a passenger aircraft was recorded at an approximate altitude of 200 meters. By this irresponsible behavior, the drone operator/remote pilot endangered the lives of the crew and passengers, the aircraft, as well as lives and property on the ground. The aircraft crew reported their observation to Croatia Control (Crocontrol), which then notified the relevant police authorities responsible for conducting an investigation.
Due to this incident, Dubrovnik Airport was closed for some time, causing two aircraft scheduled to land to be diverted to Split Airport.
Beyond endangering safety, lives, and property, the irresponsible drone operator/remote pilot caused significant damage to airlines and passengers through their actions. Each flight diversion to airports other than the planned destination incurs additional costs for airlines, including extra flight time, passenger handling (transport to the final destination and/or hotel accommodation), compensation for delays, etc.
Such disruptions can have a cumulative effect on the overall planned operations of the involved carriers, with direct damages ranging from €15,000 to €190,000 per diverted flight. The indirect damage caused to passengers in the form of missed personal and business obligations often cannot be quantified in monetary terms.
Drone flights near airports and in controlled airspace are permitted only with approval from the relevant air traffic control authority. Unauthorized and illegal operations can be extremely dangerous to aircraft safety, crew, passengers, and people and property on the ground. Such activities are punishable and entail misdemeanor and criminal liability.
The Croatian Civil Aviation Agency, together with its partners—primarily Croatia Control and the Police Directorate—conducts daily procedures to detect unauthorized and illegal drone operations. A zero-tolerance policy is applied to operators and remote pilots who endanger air traffic safety, with fines for such offenses reaching up to €20,000.
Outside controlled airspace, drone flights are limited to 120 meters in altitude, but the drone pilot is still required to reserve airspace for their flight via the designated CroControl AMC portal service.
This airspace is shared by numerous users—general aviation aircraft, paragliders, military and police helicopters, air ambulances, commercial sightseeing flights, etc., making it critically important for safety that all airspace users declare their activities in advance for proper coordination.
We remind the public that in 2024 alone, three very serious incidents involving irresponsible and illegal drone use near Croatian airports occurred within just two weeks.
As the wildfire season approaches, the use of drones in firefighting operation zones will directly endanger the safety of aerial and ground crews, as seen in previous years. Flight crews will immediately suspend operations upon detecting a drone in their activity zone. This will hinder fire containment efforts, endanger lives, and increase potential property damage.
We appeal for responsible behavior from drone operators. What may seem like harmless fun or a hobby could have potentially catastrophic consequences if flown near other aircraft. Anyone operating a drone must do so responsibly, adhering to all applicable rules and regulations. Drone flight regulations, like those for other aircraft, are designed to ensure everyone’s safety.
We also call on the public to report any drone activity observed near airports, fire zones, or other security-sensitive areas to the nearest police station. Authorities will investigate and, in cooperation with the Agency, prosecute drone operators/remote pilots if they are found liable for misdemeanor or criminal offenses.”
