Drone Alarm and Grounding at Munich Airport
Munich Airport faced a fresh disruption on Friday night as a precautionary drone alert led the German air traffic control to suspend operations at the facility until further notice. The DFS cited unconfirmed drone sightings and halted flight movements in and out of the airport, prioritising safety above all else.
What happened on Friday night
At about 21:28 local time, the Federal Police’s Munich division confirmed that safety concerns prompted the DFS to suspend all flight operations. Shortly before 11 p.m., two police patrols observed drones near the north and south runways; the drones reportedly turned away and vanished, so they could not be identified.
Impact on travelers
According to the airport, 23 arriving flights were diverted, 12 flights were cancelled, and 46 departures could not operate as scheduled or were rescheduled to Oct 4. In many cases, passengers were already seated when the decision to halt operations was announced, and they had to deplane with only hand luggage.
Passengers stranded and relief efforts
Authorities and airlines organized immediate passenger support in the terminals. The airport installed field beds and distributed blankets, drinks, and snacks. Overnight, a midnight flight ban due to noise protection prevented new flights, and hotel availability was limited by Oktoberfest crowds. Some travelers found themselves stuck at the terminal until dawn, with limited options to continue their journeys tonight.
Next-day developments
By Saturday morning, check-in for some flights had resumed and a first aircraft was scheduled to depart around 7 a.m. Some planes that were diverted or canceled on Friday continued to be integrated into the schedule, with landings reported as normal for certain arrivals. However, the disruption remained significant, and more than 6,500 passengers were affected—more than double the previous day.
A personal story
Austrian couple Klaus and Nicole Wienroither, en route to Manchester to support their daughter, Manchester City midfielder Laura Wienroither, were among those waiting for a path out of Munich. After about three hours in the plane, EasyJet informed them that the airport would remain closed. They faced an uncertain weekend with limited alternatives while the situation at Munich stabilized.
What comes next
Officials noted that safety remains the priority and that investigations and procedures would be reviewed to prevent a recurrence. Passengers are advised to monitor their flight statuses with airlines and the airport’s updates, as operations gradually resume. The incident underscores the need for robust response plans to drone sightings and improved coordination between regulators, police, and carriers to minimize disruption when the sky above a major hub is not safe for flight.
