European Airports Face Drone Crisis as Munich Closes Twice
Munich Airport, Germany's second-busiest airport, has been forced to close for the second time in two days following multiple drone sightings near its runways. The latest incident occurred Friday evening when police spotted unidentified drones flying near the airport's two main runways, prompting immediate suspension of all flight operations.
'The drones flew away before they could be identified,' a police spokesperson confirmed, highlighting the challenge authorities face in tracking these elusive aerial threats.
Massive Passenger Disruption
The closure has left approximately 6,500 passengers stranded at the airport, with many forced to sleep on camp beds arranged in terminal buildings. Airport officials provided food, drinks, and emergency accommodations for affected travelers, though the timing couldn't be worse - Munich is currently hosting Oktoberfest, making hotel rooms virtually impossible to find in the region.
Flight operations were scheduled to resume at 5:00 AM local time but were delayed until 7:00 AM due to continued security concerns. Even after reopening, several flights remained cancelled or delayed according to the airport's official website.
Pattern of European Drone Incidents
This incident is part of a worrying trend across Europe. Similar drone sightings have been reported at airports in Denmark and Norway, as well as military installations in Belgium in recent weeks. The coordinated nature of these incidents has raised alarms among European security officials.
'Europe is on high alert,' one security expert noted, pointing to the sophisticated timing and coordination of the drone flights.
European Response and Security Measures
The timing of these incidents coincides with a meeting of European interior ministers in Munich, where the 'drone swarm' phenomenon is high on the agenda. European leaders are discussing the creation of a "drone wall" initiative - a layered network of detection and interception systems to protect European airspace from unauthorized drone activity.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has cautioned that implementing such comprehensive anti-drone measures could take 3-4 years, while other European leaders believe faster action is possible. The concept builds on existing air defense initiatives but specifically targets the growing drone threat that differs from traditional aircraft and missile defense.
Economic and Security Implications
The repeated closures at Munich Airport highlight the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to drone interference. As Germany's second-busiest airport handling over 41 million passengers annually, the economic impact of these disruptions extends beyond immediate travel chaos to broader implications for European aviation security.
While authorities haven't officially identified the source of the drones, security analysts point to a pattern of suspicious activity that suggests coordinated testing of European air defense capabilities. The incidents come amid heightened tensions with Russia, though Moscow has consistently denied involvement in the drone flights.
As European leaders grapple with this new security challenge, passengers continue to face uncertainty about when normal flight operations will fully resume and what long-term measures will be implemented to prevent future disruptions.