Munich Airport saw a temporary suspension of operations last week on Thursday night and Friday after sightings of unidentified drones, which triggered cancellations, disruptions and concerns across the security of European aviation.
Airport Shutdown
Munich Airport reported on the evening of October 2, several drones were sighted within the vicinity of the airport’s grounds, with the first reports being received around 08:30 p.m.
At 09:05 p.m., drones were reported near the airport fence, and at 10:10 p.m., the first sighting of the drones on airport grounds led to the suspension of operations at 10:18 p.m.
The disruptions caused cancellations of 17 outbound flights and diversions of 15 inbound flights to Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Vienna, and Frankfurt, affecting nearly 3,000 passengers.
Operations resumed on Friday morning; however, the airport had more drone sightings later in the evening, causing a second shutdown. Police reported two drone sightings around 11 p.m. near the airport’s north and south runways; however, they flew away before they could be identified.
These sightings caused further delays in Munich’s weekend operations, with approximately 170 flights being cancelled by airlines on Saturday due to operational reasons, affecting at least 6,500 passengers, some of whom were stranded with camp beds, air mattresses, and blankets.
The airport press said:
When a drone is suspected of being sighted, the safety of travellers is the top priority […] It is imprtance to emphasise that the detection and defence against drones are sovreign tasks and are the responsibility of the federal and state police.
After the sightings, helicopters from the federal police and the Bavarian state police were deployed to monitor the airspace and conduct searches.
Security Concerns
Whilst no group has claimed responsibility, the incident has raised concerns across Europe. Drone-related incidents have recently occurred across a number of European countries.
Last month, Denmark experienced similar halts to operations at airports across the country after several drone sightings. Meanwhile, drone-related incidents have occurred in the Norwegian capital, Oslo.
Although there is no clear individual or organisation behind these flyovers, there have been growing concerns expressing that they’re being carried out by Russia. Authorities representing the country involved in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine have rejected any claims of involvement.
However, officials, such as Chancellor Friedrich Merz, say:
We suspect that a significant portion of it [drone activity] is probably controlled from Russia. But we are investigating the matter, and regardless of where it comes from, it is a serious threat to our security
According to reports, there have been 144 drone overflights this year in Germany’s airspace alone, with 90% on average reported in areas surrounding airports. These sightings disrupt and cause a serious threat to the safety of air traffic, delaying flights, disrupting passenger journeys, and even causing considerable economic damage.
Is there more behind these intrusions into European airspace? Or is it merely a harmless hobby? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
