MUNICH (AP) – Munich Airport was shut down late Friday night due to multiple suspected drone sightings, marking the second closure in less than 24 hours, as confirmed by the airport's official statement. This incident follows a series of mysterious drone overflights in the airspace of various European Union member countries, raising significant security concerns.
Officials suspended flight operations at Munich Airport beginning Friday night until further notice, citing precautionary measures due to unconfirmed drone sightings. The initial restrictions on flights occurred shortly after 10 p.m. (2000 GMT) on Thursday, leading to a complete halt of operations. This disruption caused 17 departing flights to be grounded, affecting nearly 3,000 passengers, while 15 flights that were scheduled to land were redirected to alternative airports, including three within Germany and one in Vienna, Austria. Operations resumed at 5 a.m. (0300 GMT) on Friday morning, according to Stefan Bayer, a spokesperson for Germany’s federal police at Munich Airport.
Authorities have yet to provide any information regarding the identity of those responsible for the drone sightings. The airport reported "several drone sightings" but did not disclose specific details. Following reports, federal police began their investigation and noted that the task of detecting and addressing drone threats falls under the jurisdiction of federal and state police.
The drone incident at Munich Airport is part of a larger pattern of similar sightings across Europe, with reports of drones also spotted overnight in Belgium near a military base. Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken described the nature of these flights as "suspicious and unknown," prompting an ongoing investigation by the defense ministry. Reports from Belgian broadcaster VRT indicated that as many as 15 drones were observed near the Elsenborn military base, which is located approximately 600 kilometers from Munich.
In an attempt to track the origins of the drones, federal police deployed helicopters and utilized other surveillance methods; however, no evidence of the drones was found. Witnesses included airline staff and members of the public who were present at the airport. The closures led to hundreds of stranded passengers, some of whom spent the night in cots set up in the terminals, while others were accommodated in hotels with provisions of blankets, snacks, and drinks provided by the authorities.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced plans to discuss the drone incursions and develop a "drone detection and defense plan" during an upcoming meeting in Munich with European counterparts. He emphasized the urgency of addressing the drone threat, stating, "We are in a race between drone threat and drone defense. We want to and must win this race."
The incidents have prompted speculation that state actors, possibly from Russia, might be behind the sightings, though authorities have not confirmed such claims. Experts point out that the perpetrators could be anyone capable of operating drones, from individuals acting recklessly to organized criminal groups. The increasing prevalence of drone overflights has become a focal point in discussions among EU leaders, who are seeking to implement more stringent measures to counteract the potential threats posed by drones.
In a related development, a Russian tanker that was previously detained in France, suspected of involvement in drone incursions over Denmark, has since resumed its journey at sea. The ship departed from the French Atlantic coast bound for the Suez Canal after a thorough search by French Navy commandos yielded no evidence of drones or drone-launching equipment.
The recent events have stoked fears over national security and have underscored the complexities of regulating drone activity in a rapidly evolving aerial landscape across Europe.
