Munich Airport Resumes Operations After Drone Sightings Cause Major Disruptions
Munich Airport reopened early Friday morning after a nearly seven-hour closure triggered by multiple drone sightings, leaving approximately 3,000 passengers stranded and resulting in the cancellation of 17 flights and the redirection of 15 others.
The disruptions began Thursday evening when reports surfaced of a drone near the airport perimeter.shortly after, sightings were reported directly above the airport grounds. Federal police initiated a search utilizing ground units and a helicopter, but the drone was not located.
Flight operations were suspended at 10:15 PM, diverting incoming aircraft to airports in Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Nuremberg, and Vienna. A passenger reported their plane, already on the runway, was forced to return to the terminal. Due to a night flight ban in place between midnight and 5 a.m., normal operations could not resume immediately.
Airport authorities and police provided accommodations for stranded travelers, setting up camp beds and distributing meals within the terminal. Flights resumed at 5:25 AM following consultation with law enforcement.
Authorities have not yet determined whether existing drone detection systems were in use during the incident, or if responses were solely based on visual reports. It remains unclear if the sightings posed an immediate threat to air traffic, or were isolated incidents.
The incident occurred amidst growing calls for enhanced drone defense capabilities in Europe. Jens spahn, leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, advocated for the rapid progress of a “functioning drone defense,” emphasizing the need for “an interlinked and agile technological ecosystem” rather than relying on fighter jets. He stressed the urgency of the situation, stating, “We have to build a functioning drone defense quickly.”
Spahn also voiced support for Foreign minister Johann WadePhul’s call for a re-evaluation of Germany’s conscription policies,citing concerns about potential Russian aggression as highlighted by the Minister of Defense.