Munich Airport in Germany was forced to halt all flights early Friday, October 3, 2025, following multiple drone sightings. This incident marks the latest in a troubling series of aviation disruptions recently observed across Europe.
Similar events have plagued airports in Denmark, Norway, and Poland, where flights were temporarily suspended due to unidentified drone activity. Meanwhile, Romania and Estonia have openly accused Russia of involvement, though Moscow has vehemently denied these claims.
The impact on Thursday night, October 2, 2025, was substantial: approximately 3,000 passengers found themselves stranded as 17 departing flights were canceled. Additionally, 15 incoming flights had to be rerouted to alternative cities such as Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Vienna, and Frankfurt, according to an airport statement.
The airport confirmed that amenities including camp beds, blankets, drinks, and snacks were made available to assist the affected travelers in Munich.
Details regarding the resumption of flights were not immediately provided.
Police reported that multiple individuals witnessed drones near the airport around 7:30 PM GMT on Thursday, with further sightings an hour later. These incidents prompted a one-hour closure of both runways.
German authorities have initiated an investigation to determine the source of these drones.
Despite the deployment of police helicopters, officials stated that no information on the type or quantity of drones has been gathered yet.
This incident occurred just before the final weekend of Oktoberfest, a massive annual festival that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to Munich daily.
The festival itself had already faced a half-day closure on Wednesday due to a bomb scare, adding to the city’s recent security concerns.
The Concept of a ‘Drone Wall’
The surge in drone sightings, particularly in Denmark, combined with high-profile aerial incursions linked to Moscow in Estonia and Poland, has intensified fears that Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine could extend beyond its current borders into wider Europe.
On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky cautioned Europe that these recent drone incidents signal Moscow’s intent to escalate its aggressive actions.
Germany remains on high alert, having reported a swarm of drones flying over the country last week, including over sensitive military and industrial facilities.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stressed that Berlin must develop ‘new responses to this hybrid threat,’ potentially including measures like shooting down the unauthorized drones.
Denmark also voiced strong concerns, with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen asserting last week that only one nation truly threatens Europe’s security: Russia.
Moscow, however, ‘firmly rejects’ any accusations of involvement. Russian President Vladimir Putin, in turn, accused Europe of fueling ‘hysteria’ to rationalize increased military expenditures.
In response, EU heads of state convened in Copenhagen this week to deliberate on strengthening the bloc’s defenses, specifically discussing the creation of a ‘drone wall’ to counter such threats.
Denmark accepted Sweden’s offer of anti-drone technology to safeguard the meeting against potential disruptions.
Concurrently, the United States is supplying anti-drone defense systems to Denmark, as confirmed by Copenhagen’s defense ministry.
NATO has declared ‘enhanced vigilance’ in the Baltic region in the wake of these airspace intrusions.