Late Thursday, Munich Airport experienced a significant disruption when drone sightings forced a complete halt to all flights. This incident marks Germany as the most recent European nation to face air travel shutdowns due to such aerial intrusions, a trend observed across the continent in recent weeks.
The unauthorized drone activity, first detected at 10:18 p.m. local time, led to the grounding of 17 outbound flights from Munich, impacting nearly 3,000 passengers. Additionally, fifteen incoming flights were diverted to other cities including Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Vienna, and Frankfurt, according to a statement released by the airport.
In their official communication, the airport emphasized that “When a drone is sighted, the safety of travelers is the top priority.” This highlights the serious nature of these incidents and the immediate need to prioritize public safety.
This event follows similar closures at several airports in Denmark and Norway just last week, where drone sightings led to widespread concern. Danish leaders openly described these incidents as attempts to instill fear within the country. European officials are already on heightened alert due to recent instances of Russian aircraft encroaching upon the airspace of Poland, Estonia, and Romania. Consequently, many European leaders have attributed these recent drone incursions to Russia, an accusation Moscow has consistently denied.
For those stranded in Munich, the airport provided essential comforts, including beds, blankets, refreshing drinks, and snacks, demonstrating efforts to mitigate the inconvenience for affected passengers.
This situation remains fluid, and further updates will be provided as information becomes available.