Munich Airport Reopens After Drone Sightings Halt Flights
Munich Airport resumed operations on Friday, October 3rd, after being temporarily shut down the previous evening due to multiple drone sightings. The incident caused significant disruption, leading to flight cancellations and diversions, and affecting thousands of passengers during the eve of the German Reunification Day holiday.
Flight Disruptions and Passenger Impact
Germany's air traffic control initially restricted flights and then halted them completely on Thursday night following the drone reports. In total, 17 flights were unable to take off, impacting nearly 3,000 passengers. Additionally, 15 arriving flights were diverted to other airports including Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Vienna, and Frankfurt.
Many passengers were left stranded, with hundreds spending the night in cots set up in the airport terminals or accommodated in hotels. Airport staff distributed blankets, drinks, and snacks to those affected.
Investigation and Security Concerns
Authorities are currently investigating the source and nature of the drone overflights. A police spokesperson stated that due to the darkness, the size and type of the drones involved could not be immediately determined. Federal police deployed helicopters and other resources to try and locate the drones, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
“When a drone is sighted, the safety of travellers is the top priority,” the airport stated.
European-Wide Drone Concerns
The Munich Airport incident is the latest in a series of similar drone sightings that have disrupted air travel and raised security concerns across Europe. Similar incidents were recently reported in Denmark and Norway, leading to temporary airport closures. These events have prompted a discussion among European leaders regarding measures to enhance security and counter the threat posed by drones.
European authorities have expressed concerns that Russia could be behind some of these incidents, though Russian authorities have denied any involvement. EU leaders recently met in Copenhagen to discuss strengthening the bloc's defences against drones.
EU Response and Future Measures
In response to the growing drone threat, European leaders have vowed to step up measures to minimize and thwart such incidents. Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission chief, has called for a "drone wall" to protect Europe's eastern flank. Mette Frederiksen, Danish Prime Minister, emphasized the need to strengthen the production of drones and anti-drone capabilities.
The incidents have highlighted the vulnerability of critical infrastructure and prompted calls for the rapid development and deployment of integrated drone defense systems across Europe.
