Munich Airport Reopens After Drone Incident Halts Flights

Munich Airport Shutdown: Drone Sightings Cause Major Disruption

Munich Airport, Germany's second-busiest airport, was forced to suspend all flight operations for nearly seven hours overnight after multiple drone sightings near the airfield. The closure began around 10 p.m. local time on Thursday and lasted until 5 a.m. Friday morning, affecting approximately 3,000 passengers and resulting in 30 flight cancellations or diversions.

Passenger Chaos and Emergency Response

During the shutdown, airport authorities provided emergency accommodations for stranded passengers, setting up field beds, blankets, drinks, and snacks throughout the terminal. Hundreds of passengers spent the night on these makeshift beds, while others were accommodated in nearby hotels. 'We were told there were drones flying near the airport, and suddenly everything stopped,' said passenger Anna Schmidt, who was traveling to Barcelona. 'It was chaotic but the airport staff did their best to keep us comfortable.'

The timing of the incident limited the overall impact, as Munich Airport typically suspends operations between midnight and 5 a.m. anyway. However, the disruption still affected 17 flights during the operational hours, with 15 arriving flights diverted to other German cities and Vienna.

Growing European Drone Threat

This incident is part of a worrying trend across Europe. In recent weeks, similar drone sightings have disrupted airports in Denmark and Norway, affecting tens of thousands of passengers. CNN reported that Copenhagen Airport experienced a four-hour closure in September, while Oslo Airport also faced disruptions from unauthorized drone activity.

German authorities reported that multiple witnesses spotted drones around 9:30 p.m. above the airport, with another sighting occurring an hour later. Police are investigating whether it was a single drone or multiple aircraft, and have launched an investigation to determine their origin.

Political Response and Security Measures

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has called the increasing drone incidents across Europe a serious threat and announced plans to establish a drone defense center. 'We are facing a constant hybrid threat that requires immediate and comprehensive response,' Dobrindt stated in a recent press conference.

The German government is planning significant legal changes to address the drone threat, including amendments to the Aviation Security Act that would explicitly permit the Bundeswehr to shoot down hostile drones when police capacity is insufficient. Politico reported that these amendments are scheduled to be presented to parliament this autumn.

Broader Security Concerns

The Munich incident follows other concerning drone activities in Germany. Last week, drones were reported flying over a parliament building, naval shipyard, power plant, and hospital in Schleswig-Holstein, according to Der Spiegel. European leaders recently discussed the drone problem at a meeting in Copenhagen, seeking coordinated responses to what many see as a growing security challenge.

While Romania and Estonia have pointed fingers at Russia for similar incidents, Moscow has denied all allegations. The situation highlights the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to drone incursions and the urgent need for enhanced detection and defense systems across European airports.

Lufthansa, which uses Munich as its second hub, reported that 19 of its flights were cancelled or diverted, including three long-haul flights to Asia. The airline is working to reaccommodate affected passengers and minimize further disruptions to its schedule.