Munich's Airport Halts Operations Following Drone Incidents Lead to Latest European Travel Disruption
Several drone sightings over Munich airport on Thursday evening forced air traffic control to halt all flights, leading to the cancellation of 17 flights and affecting journeys for almost three thousand travelers in the German city.
An additional fifteen arriving flights were diverted to Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Vienna and Frankfurt, the airport said in a statement, representing the most recent drone disruption to Europe's air travel after similar sightings briefly closed airports in Denmark and Norway the previous week.
Germany's air traffic control officials restricted air traffic at Munich airport from late Thursday evening and later halted them completely due to several UAV appearances, the airport added.
Metropolis Previously Nervous After Recent Security Events
The city was previously on edge this week after its famous beer festival was closed temporarily due to a bomb threat and the discovery of explosives in a residential building in the northern part of the city.
European Leaders Address Increasing UAV Threat
Denmark has avoided stating which party it believes is accountable for the occurrences in its skies last week, which affected flight operations at multiple airfields, but Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen has implied it might be Russia.
Frederiksen said Europe was in its "gravest and riskiest position" since the conclusion of the World War II, as she hosted EU leaders for talks on supporting Ukraine and strengthening European security initiatives intended to ensure the region is prepared to deter invaders by 2030.
At the meeting, officials supported proposals to bolster the union's protections against Moscow's UAVs.
Military Reaction Strengthens
On Sunday a German air defence frigate, FSG Hamburg, arrived in Copenhagen to assist in "enhancing Denmark's airspace surveillance" during the summits, Danish armed forces said.
The frigate is part of Nato's "Baltic Sentry" operation, which the organization said this weekend it intended to reinforce. A Nato spokesperson commented there would be "heightened alertness" in the Baltic Sea region, including Denmark.
Moscow Rejections and International Strains
Moscow's leader Putin joked recently that he would not fly drones over Denmark any more, but Moscow has denied responsibility for the events.
- Air travel activities suspended at Munich Airport
- 17 departures called off, 15 diverted
- Nearly three thousand travelers affected
- Latest in series of European drone interferences
- Safety precautions heightened across European airspace