Germany’s Munich airport resumed operations early Friday after drone sightings forced a temporary shutdown overnight, disrupting travel for thousands of passengers on the eve of German Reunification Day.
The airport authority said several drones were spotted late Thursday evening, prompting air traffic control to suspend operations. The closure led to 17 flight cancellations and the diversion of 15 arriving flights to other cities including Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Vienna and Frankfurt.
Nearly 3,000 stranded passengers were provided with camp beds, blankets and food.
Flights began departing again on Friday morning, with a service to Varna, Bulgaria among the first to take off. A flight from Bangkok landed at 5:25 a.m. (0325 GMT), the airport said.
Police confirmed the sightings but said the darkness prevented them from determining the size or type of the drones involved. Authorities have not identified any suspects.
The incident follows a series of drone-related disruptions across Europe, including temporary shutdowns of airports in Denmark and Norway last week.
European leaders meeting in Copenhagen on Wednesday vowed to strengthen anti-drone defenses amid growing concerns over the vulnerability of critical infrastructure.
“Europe must be able to defend itself,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said after the summit. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned that Russia was seeking to test the bloc’s resilience, though Moscow has denied involvement.
The disruption added to a tense week in Munich, where Oktoberfest was temporarily halted over a bomb threat and police separately discovered explosives in a residential building.
Friday’s reopening ensured air traffic resumed in time for the national holiday marking German reunification, though officials said investigations into the drone incident were continuing.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
