Munich Airport Halts Flights After Drone Sightings, Thousands Affected

Flights at Munich airport were suspended Thursday night after multiple drone sightings, a police spokesperson told AFP, marking the latest in a series of aviation disruptions across Europe.

Seventeen departures were canceled and 15 arrivals diverted to cities including Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Vienna and Frankfurt, affecting nearly 3,000 passengers, the airport said. Stranded travelers were offered camp beds, blankets, drinks and snacks.

The drones were spotted around 1930 GMT and again an hour later, forcing both runways to close for about an hour. Police deployed helicopters but said details on the number and type of drones remain unclear. Authorities have launched a search to trace their origin.

The disruption comes on the final weekend of Munich’s Oktoberfest, which draws huge daily crowds, and amid heightened drone fears across Europe. Airports in Copenhagen, Oslo and Warsaw have also been forced to shut temporarily in recent weeks.

Poland and Denmark have pointed the finger at Russia, accusing it of orchestrating drone incursions. EU member states met in Copenhagen Thursday to discuss strengthening defenses, including a proposed “drone wall.”

Germany’s interior minister Alexander Dobrindt warned of a growing hybrid threat after drone swarms were spotted over military and industrial sites last week. Berlin, he said, must be ready to “find new responses — including shooting down drones.”