Munich Airport Suspends Flights Due to Drone Sightings

Munich Airport Suspends Flights Due to Drone Sightings

Munich Airport has temporarily suspended operations following multiple drone sightings on Thursday evening. This disruption led to the cancellation of 17 flights and affected nearly 3,000 passengers. The airport announced that air traffic control restricted flight operations at 10:18 PM local time, eventually leading to a complete suspension of services.

In response to the situation, 15 flights were diverted to other airports, including Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Vienna, and Frankfurt. The airport took immediate action to assist stranded passengers by providing camp beds, blankets, drinks, and snacks in the terminals.

The airport emphasized that passenger safety is its top priority and stated, "Reporting chains between air traffic control, the airport, and police authorities have been established for years." They also noted that the detection and defense against drones fall under the responsibilities of federal and state police.

This incident at Munich Airport adds to a series of similar disruptions across Europe, with recent drone sightings causing temporary shutdowns in Denmark and Norway. Speculation about potential Russian involvement has surfaced, although no concrete evidence has been provided, and Moscow has denied any responsibility.

The timing of this disruption is particularly concerning for Munich, as it follows a bomb threat that led to the temporary closure of Oktoberfest earlier this week. Authorities are currently investigating possible connections between these incidents. The airport is expected to resume normal operations, with the first scheduled arrival at 5:25 AM and the first departure at 5:50 AM on Friday.