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Drone Alerts Disrupt European Airports as Munich Shuts for Second Night and Prague, Vilnius Tighten Defenses

Authorities have not proven who is behind the overflights, despite mounting suspicions of Russian involvement.

Overview

  • Munich Airport suspended operations again Friday night after police reported two drones near both runways, diverting 23 arrivals, canceling 12, and canceling or delaying 46 departures affecting about 6,500 passengers.
  • Traffic in Munich resumed Saturday morning, with camp beds and food provided overnight, after a first closure between Thursday and Friday also triggered dozens of cancellations.
  • Czech police deployed anti‑drone measures, snipers and a helicopter around Prague’s Václav Havel Airport following an anonymous, unverified report of approaching drones, while flights continued during the precautionary posture.
  • Vilnius briefly closed overnight on a warning about a possible series of suspicious balloons, then reopened at 4:50 a.m. local time after diverting inbound flights to other airports.
  • Germany’s interior minister urged shoot‑downs and the government will begin revising air‑security laws Wednesday to enable military action, as the defense minister called for calm, backed more powers for police and infrastructure operators, and the EU discussed coordinated anti‑drone defenses.