Fighter jets over Greifswald: Residents worried about military exercises!

Fighter jets over Greifswald: Residents worried about military exercises!

On Tuesday afternoon, November 4th, 2025, two military aircraft caused a stir over downtown Greifswald. The machines passed over the city at a height of around 300 meters, creating a deafening noise that caused uncertainty among residents. A 27-year-old from Greifswald, Jenny Mertins, expressed her unease about the war in Ukraine, while an older gentleman even raised the possibility of espionage by Russian planes. However, this turned out to be unfounded, as the [Ostsee-Zeitung](https://www.ostsee-zeitung.de/lokales/vorpommern-greifswald/greifswald/greifswald- Flugzeuge-tief-ueber-der-innenstadt-das-sind-die-gruende-7KEIH4NUKRGTHOBJ6HLTQIENDQ.html) reported.

The aircraft flown carried out part of the training flights for apprentices at the weapons school at the Laage Air Base (near Rostock). A total of around 20 military aircraft took off, including fighter jets and transport aircraft. An “A400” aircraft took off at around 10:10 a.m. and was spotted over Greifswald at 11:15 a.m. before disappearing again after around an hour. While the exercises take place during the week and at altitudes of at least 300 meters, it is theoretically possible for these machines to also fly at 170 meters over cities like Greifswald. Above larger cities such as Rostock, the minimum altitude is 600 meters.

The exercises

As part of the exercises, participants were divided into two groups, one group representing the enemy and the other representing the defense. This involved evasive and turning maneuvers as well as simulated shots at the enemy group's aircraft. The aim of these practical exercises is to train how to use the machines and to prepare for an emergency. This shows how seriously the Bundeswehr takes its training.

Another aspect is the nationwide discussion about aircraft noise and the presence of military flights, which goes back to the Cold War era. Historical documents show that several armed forces in Germany, including the Bundeswehr as well as the US Air Force and British Royal Air Force, regularly operated air bases and carried out a variety of missions. Hundreds of thousands of flight hours were completed each year and complaints about noise pollution are documented in several archived files. This makes it clear that the topic of aircraft noise is not new and always causes discussions, as the Bundesarchiv makes clear.

Public reactions

Residents' concerns about noise pollution or possible security implications during these military exercises are understandable. If a similar exercise takes place nearby in the future, the Bundeswehr will give the opportunity to contact the flight operations and information center if you have any questions or complaints. Communication between the military and the civilian population could help avoid misunderstandings and unrest in the future.