Germany's Munich Airport reopens after second closure in less than 24 hours due to suspected drones

Munich Airport in Germany reopened Saturday morning after being closed overnight for the second time in less than 24 hours due to suspected drone sightings, the airport said in a statement. The closures are part of a series of mysterious drone overflights affecting airports and critical infrastructure across European Union countries.

The airport, one of Germany’s busiest, resumed operations gradually from 7 am local time (0500 GMT) Saturday. Normally, flights begin departing around 5 am. At least 6,500 passengers were impacted by Friday night’s closure, while the previous shutdown on Thursday night affected nearly 3,000 travellers.

Authorities have not provided any information about who might be responsible for the drone incursions. Similar incidents have been reported in Belgium, where drones were spotted over a military base, and in Oslo, Norway, affecting flights late last month.


European officials have raised concerns that Russia could be behind the drone activity, though experts note that any operator with drones could be responsible. Russian authorities have denied involvement in recent incidents, including those in Denmark.

Germany’s Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said he and other European counterparts would discuss the situation and a “drone detection and defense plan” at a meeting this weekend in Munich. He added, “We are in a race between drone threat and drone defence. We want to and must win this race,” speaking in Saarbrücken alongside Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron during a ceremony marking the 35th anniversary of Germany’s reunification.

(With inputs from AP)