Munich Airport Faces Second Drone-Related Closure Amid Growing European Security Concerns

Munich airport was compelled to suspend operations once again on Friday night due to suspected drone sightings, marking the second consecutive night of disruptions.

The closure followed Thursday's incident when drone sightings resulted in more than 30 flight cancellations and left approximately 3,000 passengers stranded overnight.

Similar airport disruptions have recently occurred across Europe, with facilities in Denmark, Norway, and Poland suspending flights due to unidentified drone activities. Romania and Estonia have suggested Russian involvement, though Moscow has dismissed these allegations.

Munich airport announced it had to "cancel air traffic until further notice" following "unconfirmed drone sightings" on Friday night, just over 24 hours after the previous incident.

During Thursday's incident, drones were detected around 8:30 pm local time near the airport vicinity, including the towns of Freising and Erding. Erding hosts an airfield utilized by the German military, with Bild newspaper reporting drone activity over this facility, though police have not confirmed these specific details.

Initial drone sightings on Thursday occurred near the airport perimeter at approximately 9:05 pm, with subsequent observations over the airport complex about an hour later. The sightings ceased around midnight, but both runways had already been closed as a precaution.

The airport provided accommodation assistance to affected travelers, distributing camp beds, blankets, refreshments, and snacks.

Police deployed helicopters to investigate but reported "no information is available on the type and number of drones" involved in the incidents.

Operations resumed at 5:00 am on Friday and continued normally for most of the day, though the airport's website indicated several evening flights were cancelled, delayed, or diverted.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt characterized Thursday's incident as a "wake-up call" regarding drone threats, stating that "the race between the threat from drones and the defence against drones is becoming more and more difficult." He advocated for "more financing and research" at both national and European levels.

The disruptions coincided with German Unity Day celebrations on Friday—a national holiday—and the final weekend of Munich's Oktoberfest, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors daily. The beer festival had already experienced disruption on Wednesday with a half-day closure due to a bomb threat.

The German government is expected to approve legal changes next Wednesday allowing military forces to shoot down drones when necessary. Bavarian state premier Markus Soeder told Bild that "we must be able to shoot drones down immediately instead of waiting" and advocated extending this authorization to police forces.

The recent drone incidents across Denmark and notable aerial incursions in Estonia and Poland have intensified concerns about potential spillover from Russia's conflict with Ukraine into broader European territory.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned European leaders on Thursday that these drone activities indicated Moscow's intention to "escalate" its aggression.

Germany remains on heightened alert after reporting drone swarms flying over military and industrial sites last week. Denmark has also expressed concern, with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen recently stating that only one country "poses a threat to Europe's security—and that's Russia."

Moscow has "firmly rejected" suggestions of involvement, with Russian President Vladimir Putin accusing European leaders of fostering "hysteria" to justify increased military expenditures.

European Union heads of state convened in Copenhagen this week to discuss strengthening the bloc's defensive capabilities, including the potential establishment of a "drone wall." Denmark utilized Swedish anti-drone technology during this meeting to prevent disruptions.

The United States has begun deploying anti-drone defense systems to Denmark, according to Copenhagen's defense ministry, while NATO has announced "enhanced vigilance" in the Baltic region following these airspace intrusions.