Since 2024, Germany has seen an increase in suspicious drone flights, with over a thousand cases reported by the Federal Criminal Police Office last year. These drones often operate over critical infrastructure such as military facilities, defense contractors, and transportation hubs, causing significant disruptions and delays. An incident in July 2024 near Steinhöring involved a drone that crashed while flying over a fuel depot run by the oil, gas, and chemical company OMV, leading to a legal dispute.

The individual involved is a 22-year-old from the Ebersberg district who had purchased the lightweight drone shortly before the incident. He intended to fly the drone along the road adjacent to the fuel storage facility, but it ultimately crashed, leading to legal ramifications. The OMV company responded to the crash by filing a lawsuit against him in the Munich II District Court, signaling a tightening of regulations around drone use, particularly in proximity to critical infrastructure.

The case raises important questions about drone operation regulations in Germany as authorities grapple with the increasing use of drones for both recreational and potentially harmful activities. It emphasizes the need for clearer guidelines and strict enforcement to prevent similar incidents in the future, particularly in light of the significant number of illegal drone flights reported, which threaten safety and security at critical sites across the country.