Key points
- Thousands of passengers impacted by suspensions
- Police investigating multiple drone sightings
- Belgium military base also targeted overnight
MUNICH: Munich Airport was shut down again late Friday following more suspected drone sightings, marking the second closure in under 24 hours. The airport announced that flight operations were suspended “as a precautionary measure due to unconfirmed sightings.”
This disruption follows several similar incidents across the EU involving unidentified drones near airports and sensitive infrastructure, reports AP News.
On Thursday evening, Germany’s air traffic control first restricted flights at Munich Airport just after 10 p.m. (2000 GMT) and then stopped them entirely. Seventeen outbound flights were grounded, affecting nearly 3,000 passengers, and 15 incoming flights were rerouted to other airports in Germany and Vienna, Austria.
Operations resumed at 5 a.m. (0300 GMT) Friday, according to Stefan Bayer, spokesperson for the federal police at the airport. Later that night, the airport was closed again due to further drone sightings. The source of the drones remains unknown.
Investigating the sightings
Federal and state police are responsible for “detection and defence against drones,” the airport clarified. Federal police are now investigating the sightings, with witnesses including police, airport staff, and civilians. Despite deploying helicopters and other tracking methods, no drones have been located, Bayer said.
Passengers affected by the shutdown were given blankets, snacks, and cots to spend the night at the airport or were accommodated in nearby hotels.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said he would meet with European counterparts this weekend in Munich to discuss a “drone detection and defence plan,” stating, “We are in a race between drone threat and drone defence. We want to and must win this race.”
Suspicious drone activity
Elsewhere, Belgium reported suspicious drone activity overnight Thursday into Friday above the Elsenborn military base, near the German border. Defence Minister Theo Francken confirmed an ongoing investigation. VRT reported 15 drones were seen.
Hans-Christian Mathiesen of Danish drone firm Sky-Watch commented, “It could be anybody” behind such incidents, from careless individuals to criminal or state actors. Drones can disrupt restricted airspace with little effort and are hard to trace.
Meanwhile, a Russia-linked oil tanker once suspected of launching drones over Denmark has left French custody. The vessel, now named “Pushpa” or “Boracay,” was searched by French commandos but no drones or related equipment were found. It appears to be heading towards the Suez Canal.
