Latest European drone sightings force overnight shutdown at Munich airport
Munich Airport suspended flights late Thursday after several drone sightings. Operations resumed at 5 a.m. Friday.
The shutdown forced 15 incoming flights to divert to other airports, including Stuttgart and Vienna, while 17 departures were grounded, affecting nearly 3,000 passengers.
Federal police confirmed the shutdown. Spokesman Stefan Bayer told The Associated Press that authorities had not determined who was responsible for the drone overflights.
How were passengers affected?
The sudden halt left hundreds of travelers stranded, forcing them to spend the night inside the airport terminals. According to AP, airport staff and airlines provided cots, blankets and refreshments for those who remained at the airport. Others were transported to nearby hotels while rebooking and rescheduling continued into Friday.
When operations resumed, departures and arrivals returned to their scheduled times. Airport authorities said stranded passengers would be rebooked or placed on later flights.
Who handles drone threats in Germany?
Munich Airport said the responsibility for detecting and countering drones lies with federal and state police.
“When a drone is sighted, the safety of travelers is the top priority,” the airport said in a statement. Police and air traffic control have long-established reporting chains to manage such incidents.
Bayer, of the federal police, emphasized that while flights resumed normally, the investigation into Thursday night’s drone activity was ongoing.
Is this part of a larger trend?
The incident is the latest in a series of drone incursions across Europe that have raised alarms within NATO. Last month, alliance aircraft shot down Russian drones over Poland and intercepted warplanes violating Estonia’s airspace.
In Denmark, drones temporarily shut airports, including Copenhagen, Scandinavia’s busiest hub. Authorities there said operators appeared “professional” and targeted bases hosting F-16 and F-35 fighters.
European Union leaders discussed the growing drone threat this week at a summit in Copenhagen, pledging to expand countermeasures and coordination. While some officials have suggested Russia could be behind incidents near NATO territory, Moscow has denied involvement.
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