Munich Airport was forced to suspend operations late Friday, the second closure in less than 24 hours, after suspected drone activity in its airspace. Flights were halted “as a precautionary measure due to unconfirmed sightings,” the airport said. The disruption followed a shutdown on Thursday night when air traffic control restricted flights shortly after 10 p.m. and later grounded them entirely.
That first closure left 17 departures stranded, affecting nearly 3,000 passengers, while 15 incoming flights were diverted to other German airports and Vienna. Services resumed at 5 a.m. Friday, but operations were again suspended later in the day.
Authorities have not identified who is behind the overflights. Federal police confirmed they are investigating.
The incidents add to a growing list of mysterious drone sightings across Europe. Drones were reported over a Belgian military base overnight, while a similar episode in Oslo disrupted flights last month.
European officials have voiced concern that the incursions could be linked to Russia, though experts caution that any actor with drone technology could be responsible. Moscow has denied involvement, including in recent incidents in Denmark.
Munich Airport said “detection and defense against drones” is the responsibility of federal and state police. Passengers stranded by the shutdown were provided with temporary accommodations as investigations continued.
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