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Munich Airport in southeastern Germany shut down all flight operations for nearly seven hours overnight on 2-3 October after multiple drone sightings near the airfield, affecting thousands of passengers and forcing dozens of flight disruptions. Operations resumed at 05:00 on 3 October.
This comes amid the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war. Since September, Russia has stepped up its military provocations in the airspace of NATO countries — Ukraine’s key allies. In early September, combat drones violated Polish and Romanian airspace. Later, Russian warplanes entered Estonian airspace. Most recently, drones of officially unknown origin disrupted operations at multiple airports across the Baltic and North Sea countries — suspected to have been launched from Russian ships passing nearby.
Drones force full shutdown of major German airport
According to Munich Airport, German air traffic control (DFS) began restricting operations at 22:18 due to several drone sightings. Shortly afterward, all takeoffs and landings were suspended. A total of 17 departures were grounded, while 15 incoming flights were rerouted to other airports, including Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Frankfurt, and Vienna. Nearly 3,000 passengers were affected.
The airport stated that it immediately provided assistance inside the terminals, including setting up camp beds and distributing blankets, snacks, and drinks. Flights resumed once authorities declared the airspace safe again at 05:00. Passengers have since been rebooked or placed on later flights.
Lufthansa confirms disruption to long-haul flights
CNN reported that Lufthansa canceled or diverted 19 of its flights due to the closure, including three long-haul routes to Asia. The airline said it had provided food, water, and blankets to affected travelers overnight. According to Munich Airport’s website, the first scheduled arrival after the closure was a Lufthansa flight from Bangkok, expected to land at 05:25.
Flight tracking data from Flightradar showed multiple aircraft circling over Munich around 23:00 before diverting to alternate destinations.
Europe responds to wider drone activity
Munich is the latest European airport to shut down amid a recent rise in drone sightings across the continent. In the past several weeks, Denmark and Norway have both reported drone activity near civilian and military sites, prompting flight disruptions.
CNN notes that in a televised event on 2 October, Russian President Vladimir Putin mocked suggestions of Russian involvement in the incidents.
“I won’t anymore. Not to France, not to Denmark, not to Copenhagen,” he said. He also added: “Is all of this just words or is it time for us to take countermeasures? No one should have doubt that Russia’s countermeasures will not take a long time to come.”
Sabotage in NATO skies
On 10 September, Poland shot down four out of 19 Russian drones that entered its airspace, including from Belarus. On 13 September, northern oblasts of Romania declared an air alert over drone threats. On 19 September, three Russian fighter jets entered Estonian airspace for 12 minutes.
Separately, unknown drones were spotted in recent weeks over Norway’s Ørland military airbase and airports, Danish military sites and Aalborg Airport, and parts of Sweden. On 26 September, drones were also seen over the German federal land of Schleswig-Holstein. Oslo airport closed two times in late September due to drone sightings.
