German authorities suspend flights at Munich over drone sighting

Karthikeyan Sundaram, Bloomberg News on Oct 2, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

German air traffic control said it suspended flight operations at Munich Airport Thursday evening after several drone sightings, affecting multiple departures and thousands of passengers at the country’s second-biggest hub.

Seventeen departures were grounded, and 15 incoming flights were diverted to Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Vienna and Frankfurt, according to an official statement. Passenger safety is the top priority, and detection and defense against drones remain sovereign tasks, officials said in the statement.

The Munich disruption follows recent drone incidents across Europe that forced temporary closures and large-scale diversions at major hubs, including Copenhagen, Denmark, and Oslo, Norway, and prompted officials to warn of sophisticated operators and broader security implications. A spate of aerial incursions has sparked talks in the European Union around building a “drone wall.”

Flight operations at Munich were initially restricted, and later suspended altogether after the drone sightings, according to the statement. The airport, together with airlines, cared for nearly 3,000 passengers in the terminals, setting up camp beds and providing blankets, drinks and snacks.