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Munich Airport Reopens After Nighttime Drone Sightings Halt Flights

Police have opened an investigation following the overnight shutdown.

Overview

  • Air traffic control restricted operations at 22:18 local time Thursday after multiple drone sightings and fully halted flights before reopening around 05:00 Friday.
  • Seventeen departures were canceled and 15 inbound flights were diverted to Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Frankfurt and Vienna, disrupting nearly 3,000 passengers.
  • Lufthansa said 19 of its flights were canceled or diverted, including three long-haul services to Asia that will be rescheduled.
  • The airport provided cots, blankets, food and drinks to stranded travelers during the closure.
  • Bavarian state police and the German Federal Police are investigating; officers said darkness prevented identifying the drones’ type, size or origin, and the incident follows recent airport disruptions in Denmark and Norway that spurred EU support for layered anti-drone defenses.