Germany’s Munich Airport was forced to close again on Friday following multiple drone sightings, just hours after a similar incident on Thursday night. Both runways were shut as a safety precaution, according to Reuters.
On Thursday, at least 17 flights were grounded, affecting nearly 3,000 passengers, while 15 additional flights were diverted to nearby airports. The airport reopened at 5 a.m. local time once authorities deemed arrivals and departures safe.
Europe Faces Growing Drone Threats
Munich is the latest European airport to experience disruptions due to drones. In recent weeks, airports in Denmark and Norway faced similar incidents, impacting tens of thousands of travelers.
A Munich Airport spokesperson confirmed early Friday that there had been “several drone sightings,” without specifying numbers. A police spokesman added that witnesses included police, airline staff, and nearby civilians, but the exact number of drones was unclear.
Police Search Yields No Drones
After the runway closures, federal police deployed helicopters and other resources to track the drones, but no drones were found, Bayer said.
Hundreds of stranded passengers spent the night in cots at the terminals or were accommodated in hotels, with blankets, drinks, and snacks provided, reported German news agency dpa.
Government Response and Drone Defense Plans
Germany’s Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt, announced that he and European counterparts would discuss the incidents and a “drone detection and defense plan” at a weekend meeting in Munich.
“We are in a race between drone threat and drone defense. We want to and must win this race,” he said in Saarbrücken, where he joined Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron during Germany’s reunification anniversary ceremony.
Authorities are emphasizing the need for improved drone security measures as disruptions continue to affect passengers and airlines.
