Budapest airspace restricted for Gripen flyover

Airspace restrictions were implemented over Budapest on October 23 to facilitate a ceremonial flyover by seven JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets. The maneuver, performed by the Hungarian Defence Forces, was held to honor the heroes of the 1956 Revolution and War of Independence.

The aircraft flew over Kossuth Square at 16:00, trailing red, white, and green smoke using specialized smokewinder devices. To ensure safety, HungaroControl enforced airspace limitations within a 1500-meter radius of Kossuth Square up to an altitude of approximately 1060 meters between 11:00 and 16:30.

This restriction resulted in a temporary reduction in visible civilian aircraft on flight tracking services like FlightRadar24 and decreased noise levels near Liszt Ferenc International Airport during the scheduled window. The military operation was coordinated with civil aviation to manage the impact on commercial traffic.