Munich: Munich Airport, one of Europe’s busiest aviation hubs, was forced into an unexpected shutdown for the second time in 24 hours after suspected drone sightings near its runways triggered widespread disruption. Both runways were closed late Friday, grounding flights and leaving more than 6,500 passengers in limbo overnight.
Authorities initially announced that operations would resume at 7:00 a.m. local time on Saturday (0500 GMT), but the restart was delayed by nearly two hours. Even as takeoffs and landings resumed cautiously, officials warned travelers that the backlog would cause delays and cancellations throughout the day.
The impact of the closure was severe. At least 23 flights were diverted, 12 inbound services were disrupted, and nearly 50 departures were either cancelled or pushed back. Many passengers were left stranded in terminal halls, prompting the airport and airlines to provide camp beds, blankets, snacks, and drinks to ease the discomfort.
While the airport attributed the disruption to “unconfirmed drone sightings,” passengers received more clarity from the cockpit. A London-bound plane’s captain, whose flight was cancelled, informed travelers that both runways were shut after drones were seen in critical airspace around takeoff and landing zones. Police helicopters were also reported circling the airport during the suspension.
This was the second such incident in two days. A similar shutdown had paralyzed Munich Airport on Thursday night, fueling concerns about repeated security breaches involving unmanned aerial vehicles in German airspace.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt reacted swiftly, announcing that the government would speed up legislation enabling police to more easily request military assistance in neutralizing drones. The move underscores growing frustration among officials about how even small unmanned devices can bring large airports to a standstill.
Europe has witnessed a spate of drone-related disruptions in recent months, with some governments hinting at potential sabotage. Speculation has occasionally pointed toward Russian involvement in efforts to undermine European infrastructure, though Moscow has flatly denied such accusations.
The Munich shutdown highlights the broader vulnerability of global aviation infrastructure to drone incursions. While many drones may be operated innocently by hobbyists, even unintentional breaches into restricted airspace carry catastrophic risks for passenger jets during critical phases of flight.
For airlines, such disruptions create ripple effects far beyond the immediate cancellations, straining crew schedules, aircraft rotations, and connecting flights across continents. For passengers, the experience is one of mounting frustration and uncertainty, particularly as repeated shutdowns erode confidence in air travel reliability.
As Munich Airport works to restore normalcy, aviation authorities across Europe are expected to intensify discussions on counter-drone technology, stricter regulations, and rapid-response frameworks. For now, passengers and airlines alike remain on edge, wary of the next sighting that could once again ground Europe’s skies.