Munich Airport Chaos As Drones Force Flight Cancellations

Thousands of passengers were near stranded thursday October 2, astatine Munich airdrome aft a bid of drone sightings forced Germany’s second-busiest hub to unopen down, cancelling and diverting dozens of flights.

The incident, which deed connected nan eve of a nationalist holiday, has raised caller alarms crossed Europe astir drone activity and nan consequence of alleged hybrid attacks linked to Russia.

Munich airdrome shutdown leaves 3,000 passengers stuck

Late connected Thursday evening, respective drones were spotted supra Munich airport, prompting aerial postulation power to suspend operations. The shutdown led to nan cancellation of 17 flights, while different 15 incoming planes were diverted to airports astir nan region.

Almost 3,000 travellers were caught up successful nan chaos, pinch galore forced to walk nan nighttime successful nan terminal. Airport unit scrambled to manus retired campy beds, blankets and food, turning departure halls into makeshift dormitories.

Operations yet resumed successful nan early hours of Friday, October 3. The first formation to onshore was from Bangkok astatine 5:25 a.m., pinch only a fistful of cancellations remaining connected nan committee by morning. Still, nan disruption created a recreation nightmare connected nan eve of German Unity Day, a awesome nationalist holiday.

Who is down nan drone activity?

Police confirmed that aggregate drones were seen but admitted nan acheronian made it intolerable to place nan type aliases size of nan devices. Local and nationalist authorities are now investigating.

The incident successful Munich follows a drawstring of akin airspace intrusions crossed bluish Europe. Just past week, airports successful Denmark and Norway were concisely unopen aft unauthorised drones appeared adjacent runways. Those disruptions prompted EU leaders gathering successful Copenhagen to telephone for tougher anti-drone defences.

“Europe must beryllium capable to take sides itself,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said aft nan summit, while her defence curate warned of a Russian hybrid warfare against NATO and nan West.

Although German authorities person not pointed nan digit astatine anyone for Thursday’s incident, galore European officials fishy Moscow is testing Western defences. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen accused Russia of trying to “sow section and anxiety” done specified tactics.

Kremlin officials person denied involvement. Russian President Vladimir Putin moreover joked connected Thursday that he would nary longer alert drones complete Denmark, though nan remark did small to easiness concerns.

Munich connected separator aft tense week

The drone scare adds to a tense ambiance successful Munich, which has already endured a drawstring of unsettling events. Earlier this week, nan city’s celebrated Oktoberfest was concisely closed aft a explosive threat, while explosives were discovered separately successful a residential building successful nan northbound of nan city.

For galore locals and travellers, Thursday night’s airdrome disruption felt for illustration different rustle successful an already tense period. With German Reunification Day falling connected Friday, constabulary beingness crossed nan metropolis was already heightened.

A increasing European challenge

The Munich incident underscores nan expanding vulnerability of Europe’s airspace to small, inexpensive and often hard-to-trace drones. While astir disruptions stay unexplained, nan shape of incidents has stirred statement astir really prepared Europe really is to grip covert drone warfare aliases sabotage.

For travellers, nan connection is unsettling but clear: nan skies complete Europe are nary longer conscionable astir planes. And for governments, nan unit is mounting to show they tin support airports – and passengers – safe from nan drones nary 1 sees coming.

Stay tuned pinch Euro Weekly News for more news from Germany