Drone Alert Causes Major Disruptions at Munich Airport
Significant disruptions occurred at Munich Airport due to drone sightings, leading to the cancellation and rerouting of numerous flights. Reports indicated that drones were initially observed near the Erding Air Base, prompting immediate action from the German air traffic control.
The situation escalated on Thursday night when witnesses reported seeing drones in the vicinity of the airport. In response, the German air traffic control closed the runways around 10:30 PM. A search operation was launched by federal and state police, including aerial surveillance, but no sources of the drone activity have been identified.
According to sources, drone sightings were first noted around 7:30 PM over the Erding Air Base, which is home to a Bundeswehr innovation center focused on testing next-generation drones. By 8:30 PM, the drones were spotted over the airport itself, with reports suggesting the presence of up to six drones, later confirmed by military officials to be five. Witnesses described the drones as having wingspans between 60 centimeters and one meter.
Operations at the airport resumed early Friday morning, with the airport's website indicating that several flights had restarted. Flight tracking services also displayed aircraft taking off from Munich.
The disturbances had a profound impact on air travel, affecting a total of 32 flights. Of these, 17 were completely canceled while 15 were rerouted to other airports, including Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Vienna, and Frankfurt. Approximately 3,000 passengers were unable to fly as scheduled, leading the airport to establish emergency accommodations. Many travelers spent the night on makeshift beds in the terminals, while others were relocated to hotels. The airport provided blankets, beverages, and snacks to those affected.
Several questions remain unanswered regarding the incident. It is unclear whether there was a genuine threat to air traffic, or if the airport had systems in place for detecting drone activity. Furthermore, the potential links between the drone sightings in Munich and similar occurrences in Schleswig-Holstein and Denmark are still being investigated.
Drone sightings have reportedly been on the rise, with the German air traffic control documenting a notable increase in disturbances: 99 cases in 2023, 113 in 2024, and 144 reported by August 2025.
In light of these incidents, Bavarian officials, including the state's Minister-President, have expressed the urgency for legislative changes. They aim to empower police forces to take immediate action against drones, including the ability to shoot them down if deemed necessary. Plans for a rapid legislative process to amend police operation laws are underway, with discussions expected in the upcoming cabinet meeting.
Officials are also advocating for updates to national air safety laws to ensure the protection of critical infrastructure. They emphasize the need for comprehensive measures to safeguard airspace and maintain operational integrity.
While acknowledging the heightened tensions related to drone activities, authorities stress that the current situation is not a state of war. The aim is to strengthen measures to deter potential threats effectively.