Air Traffic Suspended Twice Due to Drone Sightings
Munich Airport is slowly restoring flight operations following two separate incidents involving drones near its runways. The first shutdown occurred late Thursday evening when air traffic controllers detected drones in the vicinity, leading to a temporary grounding of all flights. Service briefly restarted Friday morning, but additional drone sightings later that day caused another suspension, forcing several flights to divert to alternative airports including Stuttgart and Vienna.
Thousands of Passengers Affected
The disruptions impacted thousands of travelers, with more than 6,500 passengers affected during the second closure alone. Many were required to stay overnight in the terminals, where airport staff provided temporary bedding, food, and beverages. Limited flights have resumed, but airlines warned that delays and cancellations would continue as schedules are gradually adjusted.
Authorities Investigate and Consider Stricter Measures
Officials have yet to determine who was responsible for the drone flights or the number of drones involved. The events have raised renewed concerns over airport security and the vulnerability of critical infrastructure. Germany’s Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said that new legislation would be fast-tracked to strengthen counter-drone measures, potentially including the deployment of military resources to protect airports and other sensitive facilities.
