Breaking: Munich Airport Halts All Movements After Drone Sighting
Flights at Munich Airport were interrupted once more on Friday evening following an unconfirmed drone sighting. A spokesman confirmed to BR that all arrivals and departures were temporarily suspended as the situation was assessed. In the meantime, helicopters were deployed to help in the search and verification process.
According to Flightradar24, authorities precautionarily closed both the takeoff and landing runways at 21:34 local time. Several aircraft were redirected to nearby airports, notably Stuttgart, as air traffic control evaluated the security implications and the feasibility of resuming operations in the near term.
Immediate Impact on Operations
The airport indicated that the closure would be in effect until further notice, with the decision on when to reopen resting in the hands of the aviation authorities and the air traffic control service. Travelers were advised to monitor official channels for updates and to expect possible delays or cancellations.
As the afternoon and evening unfolded, the incident aggravated existing pressure from the Münchner Nachtflugregelung — the city’s night-flight regime that typically restricts takeoffs and landings between midnight and 05:00 for noise-control purposes. While the current disruption occurred earlier than that window, authorities emphasized safety and compliance as the priority in determining when night operations could resume after an incident of this kind.
Earlier Disruptions Compound the Situation
Notably, this is the second time this week that drones disrupted operations at Germany’s second-largest airport. On Thursday evening and into the early hours of Friday, unknown drones once again disrupted activity, forcing many flights to be canceled or diverted to airports such as Nürnberg (Nuremburg) and Stuttgart. The disruption affected roughly 3,000 passengers, with hundreds spending the night in the terminal on makeshift beds as the network reorganized and lodging became scarce.
Airline schedules were thrown into disarray as crews and planes were redirected, rebooked, or sent to alternative hubs to minimize further delays. The incident also underscored the growing challenge airports face in balancing security with the demands of a busy international gateway serving millions of travelers each year.
What Travellers Should Know
For passengers planning to travel through Munich, the immediate advice is to stay informed through official airport and airline outlets, including flight status boards and carrier alerts. Remote rebooking or patience may be necessary as authorities conduct checks and determine the safest path forward. Given the scale of disruptions, passengers should prepare for longer-than-usual waits in terminals and potential overnight stays if rebookings are lengthy.
Authorities have not yet announced a reopening timeline, and while the situation remains fluid, such drone-related alerts typically lead to stringent security checks and temporary resumption of operations only after all risks are assessed and mitigated.
Looking Ahead: Safety, Security, and Coordination
Events of this kind emphasize the ongoing tension between aviation safety, security protocols, and the practical realities of a major European hub. Officials are likely to review drone-sighting protocols, enforcement measures, and inter-agency coordination with air traffic control and law enforcement to prevent a repeat of such disruptions. Until a formal clearance is granted, the airport will operate under heightened caution, with a focus on safeguarding passengers and staff while restoring service as quickly and safely as possible.
Travelers, airlines, and airport staff will be watching for the next official updates as authorities determine when flight operations can safely resume and what steps will be needed to return to normal service in the coming hours and days.
