Drone Sightings Cause Major Disruptions at Munich Airport, Stranding 3,000 Passengers

In a significant disruption at Munich Airport, approximately 3,000 travelers were left stranded due to multiple drone sightings that led to numerous flight cancellations. Passengers were forced to spend the night on cots set up in airport terminals, while others were arranged to be taken to nearby hotels.

Flight operations resumed early the next morning, according to authorities. The airport's spokesperson confirmed that regular operations had returned to normal, with plans for flights scheduled for October 3 to proceed as intended.

Reports indicate that several individuals observed a drone in the vicinity of the airport on the evening prior, with further sightings reported over the airport grounds. The exact number of drones involved remains uncertain, and it is unclear who may be responsible for the incident.

In response to the drone sightings, the German air traffic control service implemented a temporary closure of the runways late that evening. Local and federal police monitored the area and searched for any aerial objects or suspects without success. A police helicopter was also deployed as part of the search effort.

According to airport officials, 17 flights were canceled that evening. One passenger recounted that their aircraft had been on the runway, only to return to the terminal. After around 10:15 PM, no landings were permitted, resulting in the rerouting of 15 flights to alternative airports, including Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Vienna, and Frankfurt.

Airport staff distributed blankets, refreshments, and snacks to those stranded, and cots were set up in the terminals to accommodate affected passengers.

Munich Airport enforces a nighttime flight ban for regular passenger traffic between midnight and 5:00 AM. Only certain types of flights, such as night air cargo and survey flights, are authorized during these hours.

As the Munich Oktoberfest continues until Sunday, disruptions in flight services may further impact the influx of millions of visitors drawn to the festival. The event had earlier faced interruption due to a bomb threat, leading to a temporary closure.

The incident has highlighted the vulnerabilities of air traffic to unauthorized drone operations. Ralph Beisel, the CEO of the German Airports Association, emphasized the need for clear responsibilities and effective drone detection and mitigation measures. He stated that the determination of whether a drone poses a threat and the appropriate countermeasures are fundamentally governmental responsibilities.

Just the previous week, drones were reported over Schleswig-Holstein, prompting investigations into potential violations involving critical infrastructure, including flights over a power plant in Kiel. The Flensburg public prosecutor's office initiated an investigation against unknown individuals, suspecting criminal activity related to security-risk imaging.

Drone-related disruptions at German airports have notably increased, with air traffic control reporting 144 incidents recorded by the end of August 2025. This marks a rise from 113 incidents during the same period in 2024 and 99 in 2023. Frankfurt Airport, Germany's busiest, has already documented 35 disruptions this year.