Post by : Raman

Munich, Germany – Germany’s Munich Airport resumed operations on Friday morning following a sudden shutdown overnight due to multiple drone sightings, which disrupted dozens of flights and caused travel chaos for thousands of passengers ahead of the national holiday.

Late Thursday evening, air traffic control suspended all airport operations after several drones were spotted hovering over the facility. The airport confirmed that 17 flights were cancelled, and approximately 3,000 passengers were affected. Authorities provided travelers with camp beds, blankets, and meals while the situation was addressed. In addition, 15 incoming flights were diverted to other German and European airports, including Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Vienna, and Frankfurt.

As the airport reopened early Friday, the first flight to land was from Bangkok at around 5:25 a.m. local time. Passengers were seen checking in for flights to destinations such as Varna in Bulgaria, and the departure boards showed only a few cancellations.

Police confirmed the drone sightings but said that, due to darkness, they could not determine the size or type of drones involved. Authorities have not identified the person or group responsible for the incident.

The Munich disruption comes amid a recent spate of drone-related interruptions at airports across Europe, including incidents in Denmark and Norway last week. These events have sparked security concerns and prompted European Union leaders to call for stronger anti-drone defenses. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated, "Europe must be able to defend itself," following a summit in Copenhagen aimed at boosting airspace security.

While no official blame has been assigned for the Munich incident, some European officials have speculated that Russia may have been testing airspace vulnerabilities in other similar events. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen remarked that such actions are intended to "sow division and anxiety in our societies." Russian authorities have denied any involvement, with President Vladimir Putin jokingly stating that he would not fly drones over Denmark again.

The drone sightings in Munich added to a tense week in the city, which recently faced a temporary closure of its popular Oktoberfest celebrations due to a bomb threat, alongside the discovery of explosives in a residential building in northern Munich. Authorities continue to monitor the situation and strengthen security measures to prevent similar disruptions.

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