Munich Airport faced a temporary closure overnight due to multiple drone sightings, marking the latest in a series of mysterious drone incidents across European Union airspace, officials confirmed.
Air traffic control in Germany restricted flights at the airport around 10 p.m. local time on Thursday before eventually suspending all operations, impacting 17 outgoing flights carrying nearly 3,000 passengers. Additionally, 15 incoming flights were redirected to alternative airports within Germany and Vienna.
Operations at the airport resumed at 5 a.m., as stated by Stefan Bayer, a spokesperson for Germany’s federal police stationed at Munich Airport. The responsible parties for the drone activities were not immediately identified by authorities.
An initial airport statement on Friday mentioned “several drone sightings” without providing further details. Bayer indicated uncertainty regarding the number of drones involved, with reports coming from police, airline staff, and individuals in the airport vicinity.
Following the runway closure, federal police deployed helicopters and other resources in an attempt to locate the drones, but no traces of them were found, according to Bayer.
Numerous stranded passengers were accommodated overnight in terminals with cots or transferred to nearby hotels. The German news agency dpa reported the distribution of blankets, beverages, and snacks to the affected individuals.
The incident at Munich Airport reflects a broader trend of unexplained drone occurrences at airports and critical infrastructure sites in various EU member countries. In Oslo, Norway, a NATO member outside the EU, recent drone activities disrupted local flight operations.
Although the culprits behind these incidents remain unidentified, authorities in Europe have raised concerns over potential Russian involvement. Russian officials have denied any connection to drone events in Denmark, while acknowledging that drones used in the Ukraine conflict had entered the airspace of EU and NATO member Poland, prompting defensive actions.
Discussions on drone threats were central at a recent summit of EU and European leaders in Copenhagen, focusing on enhancing preventive measures against drone-related risks.
Additionally, a Russia-linked oil tanker, previously detained by French authorities and suspected of links to the drone incidents in Denmark, resumed its voyage on Friday. The vessel, originating from Russia and bound for India with a significant oil cargo, faced legal scrutiny in France over crew non-cooperation during inspection. The tanker, known for frequent name changes, sailed without displaying a flag.
The tanker’s captain is set to face trial in February as per French officials, following an investigation by the French navy into the vessel’s activities.
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