Munich airport resumes flights after drone sightings; passengers stranded
Key Takeaways
- Munich Airport resumed operations after a temporary suspension caused by drone sightings.
- The disruption affected 17 cancellations and 15 diversions, stranding approximately 3,000 passengers.
- German police were deployed but could not immediately identify the type or number of drones sighted.
- The incident follows recent, similar drone disruptions at airports in Denmark and Norway.
- European leaders are increasing efforts to bolster collective anti-drone defenses amid ongoing security concerns linked to Russia.
Munich Airport resumed normal flight operations early Friday after a security scare caused by drone sightings led to a complete suspension of air traffic on Thursday night. The incident resulted in 17 flights being canceled, 15 diverted, and stranded nearly 3,000 passengers, though airport staff provided aid. The initial sighting was reported around 10:18 pm local time, prompting an immediate security response involving police helicopters, though the drones' nature remained unknown. This closure follows similar temporary disruptions at airports in Denmark and Norway last week, raising broader European security concerns. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen suggested Russia might be behind the disruptions, a claim Russian President Vladimir Putin jokingly denied during a separate event. European leaders are now actively backing plans to bolster the EU's collective defense capabilities against drone intrusions.
