Munich (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Germany’s Munich Airport reopened on Saturday morning after authorities had closed it the night before due to more suspected drone sightings, according to a statement from the airport.
The Munich airport disruption is the most recent in a series of incidents that have unsettled European aviation, prompting concerns about covert hybrid attacks on Ukraine’s European allies.
The airport, one of Germany’s largest, started gradually reopening at 7 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) on Saturday. Usually, planes start taking off at 5 a.m. The airport reported that at least 6,500 passengers were affected by the overnight closure from Friday into Saturday.
Why was Munich Airport closed due to drone sightings?
The earlier closure occurred after drone sightings overnight at Munich airport in Germany, resulting in the cancellation and diversion of dozens of flights on the eve of a national holiday. Nearly 3,000 passengers were stranded, prompting politicians to pledge stricter measures that would permit drones to be shot down.
What measures is Germany planning against drone threats?
Germany’s interior minister, Alexander Dobrindt, announced that he and several European colleagues will address the issue of drone incursions and collaborate on a “drone detection and defence plan” during a meeting this weekend in Munich.
“We are in a race between drone threat and drone defence. We want to and must win this race,” he said in the western city of Saarbrücken, where he joined German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron at a ceremony to mark the 35th anniversary of Germany’s reunification.
How have recent drone sightings impacted Europe?
The incident marks the most recent in a series of mysterious drone sightings at airports and other vital infrastructure sites across several European Union countries. This month, approximately 20 Russian drones entered Poland, highlighting weaknesses in NATO’s air defences. Fighter Jets were scrambled to intercept drones that cost only thousands, but these drones ultimately crashed into the Polish countryside.
Last week’s drone incidents, which involved airspace intrusions that temporarily closed airports in Denmark and Norway, prompted EU leaders at a Copenhagen summit to support initiatives to strengthen the bloc’s defences through anti-drone measures.
A drone incident in Oslo, Norway’s capital, a NATO member but not in the EU, also disrupted flights there last month. Additionally, drones were observed overnight in Belgium flying over a military base.
