Munich airport hit by drones, forced to stay closed for second night
Munich airport closed for a second night in a row due to drones (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
Munich International Airport has been forced to suspend operations for the second consecutive night due to reports of drones near the runways. The situation has caused massive delays and flight diversions, according to the German edition BILD.
On Friday evening, Germany’s air traffic was once again under threat. At 21:28, air traffic controllers halted all takeoffs and landings at Munich Airport following warnings about drones. Federal police stated that safety comes first, prompting the temporary suspension of flights.
Police response
All available Munich police forces have been involved in the operation. Officers are checking reports of possible drones and conducting searches. It remains unclear how long the flight ban will last, but the measures are justified as necessary to prevent risks to passengers and crews.
Airport statement
On its official website, Munich Airport stated: “On the evening of October 3, the German air traffic control service (DFS) restricted flight operations at Munich Airport due to unconfirmed drone sightings and suspended flights until further notice.”
Impact on passengers
According to Flightradar24, 17 flights were diverted on Friday evening. The day before, a similar situation also disrupted airport operations: around 3,000 passengers spent the night in the terminal, using cots and benches for rest.
Airport closure on the night of October 3
On the evening of October 2, unidentified drones were spotted near Munich International Airport. As a result, airport operations were temporarily suspended. Late Thursday evening, the airport was closed, and the runways were unavailable for use for safety reasons.
Europe is seeing increasing debate over airspace safety. A series of drone sightings has led to airport shutdowns and sparked criticism of EU authorities, accompanied by calls for stricter measures.
For context, an unidentified drone was also spotted at Brønnøysund Airport in Norway on the evening of September 30. Airport staff first detected the drone around 20:17. About an hour and a half later, police arrived and began searching for the operator, but they were unable to locate them.
