Move FM Global News

MUNICH, Germany: Munich Airport was forced to suspend all flight operations late on October 3 following more reports of drone activity — the second shutdown in less than 24 hours, officials said. The closure, described as a precautionary measure, is the latest in a growing series of mysterious drone incursions across European airspace.

The airport announced that operations were halted “due to unconfirmed sightings,” adding that flights would resume only once it was deemed safe. Germany’s air traffic control had previously suspended takeoffs and landings around 10 p.m. local time on October 2 before halting all operations entirely. The disruption affected 17 departing flights, leaving nearly 3,000 passengers stranded, while 15 incoming flights were diverted to other airports in Germany and one to Vienna, Austria.

Flights eventually resumed at 5 a.m. on October 2, said Stefan Bayer, spokesperson for Germany’s federal police at Munich Airport. But by the following night, operations were again suspended amid fresh reports of drones in the vicinity.

Authorities have not yet identified who might be responsible. The sightings come amid a wave of unexplained drone overflights targeting airports and sensitive infrastructure across several European Union nations. Drones were also spotted overnight in Belgium above a military base near the German border, and similar incidents have been reported recently in Denmark, Norway, and Poland.

European officials have voiced concern that these incursions could be linked to Russian intelligence-gathering efforts, though some experts caution against drawing firm conclusions. “It could be anybody,” said Hans-Christian Mathiesen, vice president of defense programs at Danish drone manufacturer Sky-Watch. “A state actor could disrupt activities and examine responses with minimal effort.” Russia has denied any involvement in such incidents.

Munich Airport confirmed “several drone sightings” but said that “detection and defense against drones” falls under the jurisdiction of federal and state police. Bayer said police, airline staff, and members of the public all reported seeing the devices, but searches by helicopter and other means failed to locate them.

Hundreds of passengers spent the night in airport terminals or nearby hotels, with cots, blankets, and refreshments provided.

Germany’s Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said he would discuss the repeated drone incursions with European counterparts at a meeting in Munich this weekend. The talks are expected to focus on creating a joint EU drone detection and defense strategy.

The incidents — including the recent sightings above Belgium’s Elsenborn military base, where up to 15 drones were reportedly observed — have heightened European alarm over aerial security. The issue topped discussions at an EU leaders’ summit in Copenhagen this week, where officials pledged stronger cross-border coordination to detect and neutralize rogue drones.