EASA Logs 39 Drone Accidents, Incidents in 2025
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency reported a rise in unmanned aircraft events over the prior two years, with no fatalities recorded.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Accidents
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The European Union Aviation Safety Agency recorded 39 accidents and serious incidents involving unmanned aircraft systems in 2025, up from 26 in 2024 and 24 in 2023. Of these, 27 were non-fatal accidents and 12 were serious incidents, with no fatalities reported.
Why it matters
The rise in recorded events reflects growing drone activity in European airspace as unmanned aircraft increasingly share sky space with manned aircraft. The agency's review highlights where regulators and operators face the greatest safety pressure.
The figures come from EASA occurrence reporting across Member States, with 27 non-fatal accidents and 12 serious incidents recorded in 2025. Loss of control in flight ranked first among occurrence categories, and the review did not fully explain the causes behind each event.
The players
European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
The EU agency responsible for aviation safety regulation across its member states, which compiled the occurrence review.
The details
Six of the 2025 events involved a manned aircraft alongside a drone, including a collision between a 249-gram drone and a manned balloon carrying eight people. Unauthorized drone interference at Munich airport in October 2025 was classified as a serious incident and received an X1 red score under the European Risk Classification Scheme.
Timeline
2023: One UAS fatality occurred at a model aircraft site.
October 2025: Unauthorized drone interference at Munich airport was classified as a serious incident.
2025: EASA recorded 39 UAS accidents and serious incidents in Member States.
April 2026: Occurrence data collection for the review ended.
Seasonal Patterns
Unmanned aircraft events rose from 24 in 2023 to 26 in 2024 and 39 in 2025 under the European Risk Classification Scheme. The continued climb follows a pattern of expanding drone use in European airspace that regulators are tracking event by event.
Drone operators should check local airspace rules before flying near airports or manned aircraft, since unauthorized interference was classified as a serious incident. Pilots and ground staff should report sightings of unmanned aircraft near flight paths through their national aviation authority.
The takeaway
Drone growth is outpacing the event-reporting trend in European skies, and each recorded incident adds to the evidence regulators use to set operating limits. Staying within authorized zones keeps both drone and crew safer.
Further reading
For broader context on aviation mishaps, see Accidents.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Commercialuavnews.
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