Flight disruptions eased at Munich International Airport after drone s
ightings on Thursday led German authorities to suspend operations at the country’s second-biggest hub.
Flight operations have been running normally since 5 a.m. local time, airport officials said Friday. Thousands
of passengers were affected late Thursday when 17 departures were grounded and 15 incoming flights were diverted to
Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Vienna and Frankfurt.
Passenger safety is the top priority, and detection and defense against drones remain sovereign tasks, officials s
aid in a statement. Authorities haven’t said whether they’ve determined who was responsible.
The Munich disruption follows recent drone incidents across Europe that forced temporary closures and large-
scale diversions at
lo, and prompted officials to warn of sophisticated operators and broader security implications. A spa
te of aerial incursions has sparked talks in the European Union around building a “drone wall.”
As of midmorning on Friday, 15 flights were canceled at Munich and 46 delayed, based on data from tracking f
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irm FlightAware, as the effects of the late-Thursday incident rippled into the following day.
Flight operations at Munich were initially restricted, and later suspended altogether after the drone sight
ngs, according to Thursday’s statement. The airport, together with airlines, cared for nearly 3,000 passengers in
the terminals, setting up camp beds and providing blankets, drinks and snacks.
Drone incursions have been an issue in Europe for years, but have picked up pace since Russia invaded Ukraine in
2022. In recent months, Russian military drones have slipped into Polish airspace, leading to expensive interceptions by NATO aircraft.
In the last two weeks, small drones were reported around Danish airports and military facilities, and authorities have not disclosed what their origin was. EU countries co
tributed additional defense systems to protect against drones during this week’s summit in Copenhagen, where EU leaders discussed a raft of so-called hybrid attacks.
The idea of a “drone wall” was first proposed last year as a way to tigh
ten border security, but the idea gained momentum in recent months after European Union President Ursula von der Leyen mentioned the idea in her state of the union address.
Photograph: Police and fire services at Munich Airport following drone sightings. Photo credit: Jason Tschepljakow/picture alliance/Getty Images