Germany Still second-highest security level at German Nato air base

The second-highest warning level issued on Thursday is still in force at the Nato air base in Geilenkirchen in western Germany. This was confirmed this morning by airbase spokesman Christian Brett. The employees not immediately needed on site, who were sent home on Thursday as a precautionary measure, are still not on site. "It's pretty empty here."

Flight operations continue

However, flight operations are continuing as planned and were not interrupted on Thursday, Brett said. "Awacs aircraft continue to take off and land." At the airport near the city of Aachen, there are two to three Awacs flights per day from Monday to Friday. There are no flights at the weekend.

The reason for the heightened alert level was intelligence information indicating a possible threat, Brett said. He did not provide any further details on the circumstances that led to the increase in the warning level when asked. However, Brett rejected speculation about drone overflights over the airfield. "That is absurd."

No prohibited overflights

Flying over the airbase is prohibited for unauthorized aircraft. Drones are factory-set so that they cannot navigate in no-fly zones. In addition, the airspace is of course closely monitored - as with any airport. "Nothing has flown over here."

In NATO jargon, the current security level Charlie means that an incident has occurred or that there are indications that some form of terrorist action against the alliance is very likely. Warning level Charlie is unusual - it hasn't happened in Geilenkirchen for years, he said. Nevertheless, there was no cause for concern. There is intelligence information more frequently. Usually nothing happens afterwards, but you still have to react as a precaution.

According to Brett, around 1600 people work at the airport, currently significantly fewer due to the vacations. Around half of the employees are now at home due to the warning level. However, many were working from home.

NATO has stationed the Awacs airborne early warning system in Geilenkirchen. 14 converted Boeing 707 aircraft monitor the airspace with the aim of detecting potential threats at an early stage and warning the alliance in advance.

SDA