Drone Intrusion Grounds Flights at Munich Airport

Drone sightings at Munich Airport led to a suspension of operations, canceling 17 flights and affecting 3,000 passengers. Some flights were diverted to other cities. This incident follows previous disruptions in Denmark and Norway. EU leaders have advocated for strengthened defenses against Russian drones.

Drone intrusions forced Munich Airport to halt operations on Thursday evening, leading to the cancellation of 17 flights and impacting nearly 3,000 passengers. Emergency measures redirected 15 incoming flights to Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Vienna, and Frankfurt, airport officials confirmed.

This chaos unfolds in the wake of several recent drone-related disruptions across Europe, including in Denmark and Norway. Germany's air traffic control restricted flight activities at Munich starting from 10:18 p.m. local time, due to repeated drone sightings, worsening the situation.

Amidst these aviation challenges, Munich had already been dealing with public safety concerns, having temporarily closed its Oktoberfest earlier this week due to a bomb threat. While Denmark has not officially named suspects for its airspace interruptions, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen hinted at a potential Russian connection, although Russia denies such claims. The incidents have prompted EU leaders to call for enhanced defenses against drone threats.

(With inputs from agencies.)