Munich Airport has resumed operations after drone sightings forced an overnight closure that grounded flights, diverted others, and stranded thousands of passengers, raising fresh concerns over aviation security in Europe.
The disruption began late Thursday when multiple drones were reported in the vicinity of the airport. At least 17 flights were grounded and another 15 diverted to Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Vienna, and Frankfurt, affecting nearly 3,000 passengers.
On Friday, Lufthansa confirmed that normal services had resumed. “Flight operations have since resumed according to schedule,” a spokesperson for the airline told reporters, offering reassurance to stranded travelers.
Federal Police spokesperson Stefan Bayer told Bild newspaper that the drones were first detected at 21:30 local time (19:30 GMT) and reappeared about an hour later. Authorities have not disclosed details about the drones’ origin, type, or size.
The airport shut down departing flights and closed two hours earlier than its usual midnight-to-5:00 a.m. curfew. “Nineteen Lufthansa flights were affected, either cancelled or rerouted, because of the airport suspension,” the airline said. Thousands of passengers spent the night inside the terminal, where camp beds, blankets, drinks, and snacks were provided.
The incident comes amid a wave of unusual drone activity across Europe. Copenhagen and Oslo airports recently halted operations after unidentified drones were spotted, while in Poland, 20 Russian drones reportedly crossed the border. Estonia also accused Russian MiG-31 jets of violating its airspace.
Russia has denied involvement. Speaking at a summit in Sochi, President Vladimir Putin dismissed allegations of responsibility, saying, “I won’t do it again. I won’t do it again not to France or Denmark or Copenhagen.”
The timing of the disruption was particularly sensitive as Munich is currently hosting its world-famous Oktoberfest, which draws more than six million visitors annually. Just days earlier, the festival was briefly suspended due to a bomb scare, compounding disruption for tourists and locals.
Authorities are continuing investigations into the Munich drone sightings as flight operations return to normal, underscoring persistent concerns over European airspace security.
