Munich Airport Suspends Flights Again Amid Unconfirmed Drone Sightings

Germany’s Munich Airport halted flights for the second time in 24 hours following reports of unconfirmed drone activity in nearby airspace.

Key Details

• Flights were suspended at 21:30 local time (20:30 GMT) on Friday, affecting around 6,500 passengers.

• On Thursday evening, at least 17 flights were grounded due to multiple drone sightings.

• The origin and operators of the drones remain unknown, and authorities are investigating.

Regional Context

• Belgian authorities reported 15 drones near the Elsenborn military site, close to the German border.

• The drones were reportedly tracked flying from Belgium into Germany, observed in the town of Düren.

Government Response

• Germany’s Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt plans to raise anti-drone defence measures at a European interior ministers meeting on Saturday.

• Proposed legislation will make it easier for police to request military assistance to neutralize drones.

Broader EU Concerns

• Recent weeks have seen multiple drone disruptions across Europe:

  • Airports in Copenhagen and Oslo were temporarily closed.

  • 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace; Russian MiG-31 jets entered Estonia.

• EU leaders are discussing a multi-layered “drone wall” to detect, track, and destroy drones quickly.

• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested it is “reasonable to assume” some drones may come from Russia, though Russia denies involvement.

• Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly dismissed allegations of ordering drones over Denmark.

Implications

• The repeated drone sightings highlight growing airspace security concerns in Europe.

• Governments are balancing civil aviation safety with potential military threats, accelerating discussions on defensive measures.