A suspected drone sighting triggered repeated shutdowns at Germany’s Munich Airport, disrupting flights multiple times within 24 hours as authorities investigated unconfirmed reports. The airport, Germany’s second-busiest, halted operations Thursday night after initial drone alerts, stranding thousands of passengers and diverting flights across Europe. Services briefly resumed Friday morning but were suspended again following renewed sightings, underscoring the escalating challenge drones pose to aviation safety.
The incidents highlighted a growing pattern of drone-related disruptions across Europe, with similar reports near military bases in Belgium, airports in Norway and Denmark, and within Poland, where incursions linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine prompted fighter jet responses. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced plans to address the issue during an upcoming meeting, emphasizing the need for a “drone detection and defense plan.”
Authorities deployed laser technology to monitor and detect drones near the airport, according to anonymous security sources cited by the newspaper Bild. The system aims to calculate the distance of suspected drones from restricted airspace. However, Germany’s Federal Police did not confirm the claim by the time of publication.
The latest closures followed initial sightings on October 2, with drones reported near the airport and surrounding areas like Freising and Erding. Airport officials stated that activity persisted for hours, prompting ongoing safety measures.