A suspected drone sighting triggered repeated shutdowns at Germany’s Munich Airport, disrupting flights and stranding thousands of passengers. Authorities suspended operations multiple times within 24 hours as a “precautionary measure” due to unconfirmed reports of drones in restricted airspace. The disruptions followed similar incidents at European airports, highlighting growing concerns about drones threatening aviation security.
The latest closures occurred after flights were halted Thursday night over earlier drone reports, with thousands left stranded and flights diverted across Germany and Austria. While operations briefly resumed Friday morning, renewed sightings forced the airport to ground planes again, underscoring the escalating challenge posed by unauthorized drone activity. Over 2,000 passengers were affected, with hundreds sleeping in terminals overnight as authorities responded to credible but unverified claims of drones near the airport.
The incidents align with a broader pattern across Europe, where drones have been spotted near military bases in Belgium, airports in Norway and Denmark, and within NATO member Poland. In Poland, drone incursions linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine prompted fighter jet responses. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced plans to address the issue during weekend discussions on a “drone detection and defense plan.”
Munich Airport deployed laser technology to monitor and counter potential threats, according to anonymous security sources cited by newspaper Bild. The system aims to determine a drone’s distance from the airport, though German Federal Police did not confirm the claim. The closures followed similar disruptions at the airport earlier in the week, with initial sightings reported on October 2 near towns surrounding the facility.
