Saarland police establish no-fly zones for Chancellor Merz visit

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is scheduled to visit the Saarland region on Monday, September 28. In response to the visit, the Federal Ministry of Transport has established no-fly zones in Dillingen and Saarlouis between 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM.

The restricted airspace covers the Dillinger Hütte factory grounds and the area around the Gustav-Heinemann-Brücke in Saarlouis. Drone pilots and operators of unmanned aerial systems must maintain a minimum distance of one nautical mile (approximately 1.852 kilometers) from these zones.

Saarland police have announced that they will use specialized equipment to detect and forcibly bring down any unauthorized drones detected within the restricted areas. Only police flights and those with explicit official authorization are permitted. Authorities have warned that violations will be strictly prosecuted to ensure the safety of the Chancellor, event participants, and security forces.