Operations at Munich Airport were temporarily suspended late Thursday evening following the detection of drones in the airspace, disrupting travel plans for thousands of passengers.
The German air traffic control authority, Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS), initially restricted operations from 10:18 PM local time before enacting a complete shutdown. Airport officials confirmed that 17 flights were unable to depart Munich that evening, impacting approximately 3,000 passengers.
To assist stranded travelers, the airport rapidly established temporary sleeping arrangements within the terminals, providing blankets, drinks and snacks. Simultaneously, 15 incoming flights were diverted to alternative airports including Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Vienna and Frankfurt.
The circumstances surrounding the drone activity remain unclear and authorities have yet to identify the operators or locate the drones themselves. The safety of passengers remains the paramount concern, according to airport statements. Investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the drone sightings.
