Munich Airport suspended operations for the second straight night on Friday after suspected drone sightings disrupted air traffic. The shutdown affected dozens of flights and over 6,000 passengers.
Drone Sightings Force Flight Cancellations
In a statement, the airport said it had to “cancel air traffic” following “unconfirmed drone sightings.” Authorities restricted air traffic from 9:30 p.m. before cancelling all flights. As a result, 23 incoming flights were diverted, while 12 others bound for Munich were cancelled. Another 46 departures were either cancelled or delayed until Saturday, leaving about 6,500 passengers stranded.
To assist affected travelers, the airport and airlines provided supplies inside the terminals. “As on the previous night, the airport, in collaboration with the airlines, promptly provided supplies for passengers in the terminals. Camp beds were set up, along with blankets, drinks, and snacks,” the statement added. Normal flight operations are expected to resume by 5:00 a.m. on Saturday.
Police Investigation Underway
Authorities are now investigating the latest suspected drone activity. A police spokesman told AFP that officers were “currently investigating a lead about a possible drone sighting over Munich airport” on Friday evening.
The first disruption occurred on Thursday night when police reported drone activity near the airport, including in the nearby towns of Freising and Erding. Erding is home to a German military airfield. Bild newspaper reported that some drones may have flown over the facility, though police have not confirmed that detail.
The first drone sightings were reported at 9:05 p.m. on Thursday and continued for nearly three hours, forcing both runways to close. Police helicopters were deployed, but authorities said “no information is available on the type and number of drones.”
Security Concerns Across Europe
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt called the drone incidents a “wake-up call” and warned that “the race between the threat from drones and the defence against drones is becoming more and more difficult.” He urged “more financing and research” at national and European levels to tackle the growing problem.
The disruptions came as Germany marked Unity Day, a national holiday, and as Munich prepared for the final weekend of Oktoberfest. Earlier in the week, the famous beer festival had also faced a temporary closure after a bomb scare.
The German government is expected to approve a law next week allowing the army to shoot down drones if necessary. Bavarian state premier Markus Söder supported the move, saying, “We must be able to shoot (drones) down immediately instead of waiting.” He also suggested that the police should have similar authority.
Rising European Drone Tensions
Recent drone sightings have caused flight suspensions in Denmark, Norway, and Poland. Meanwhile, Romania and Estonia have accused Russia of involvement, though Moscow has denied the claims.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Europe that these incidents show Russia’s intent to “escalate” its aggression beyond Ukraine. Germany, too, has reported swarms of drones flying over military and industrial areas in the past week.
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen recently emphasized that “only one country poses a threat to Europe’s security – and that’s Russia.” However, Moscow dismissed these accusations, with President Vladimir Putin saying Europe is fueling “hysteria” to justify increased military spending.