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The incident adds to growing concerns across Europe, following a series of drone sightings near airports in Denmark last week.
Munich Airport Closed After Drone Sightings, Nearly 3000 Passengers Stranded
Munich Airport in southern Germany was forced to shut down temporarily on Thursday night following multiple drone sightings, making it the latest European aviation hub to be disrupted by unexplained aerial activity.
Flights grounded and diverted
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The airport confirmed in a statement that 17 flights were grounded shortly after 10 p.m. local time, leaving nearly 3,000 passengers affected. A further 15 inbound flights were diverted to Stuttgart, Nuremberg and Frankfurt, as well as to Vienna in neighbouring Austria.
“Some flights are still waiting to take off, others have been cancelled. Everything is under control and the airport is due to reopen at 5 a.m.,” a call handler told CNN in the early hours of Friday.
Munich Airport, located in Bavaria, is a major hub for German flag-carrier Lufthansa and served almost 20 million passengers in the first half of 2025.
The incident adds to growing concerns across Europe, following a series of drone sightings near airports in Denmark last week that disrupted tens of thousands of travellers. In response, Denmark imposed a temporary nationwide ban on civilian drone flights as it hosted a summit of European leaders to discuss support for Ukraine and strengthen European security.
Security concerns
The spate of incidents comes as Europe remains on heightened alert. NATO members Poland and Romania have both reported suspected Russian drone incursions, while Estonia has accused Russian fighter jets of violating its airspace.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, speaking after the Copenhagen disruptions, said authorities could not confirm who was behind the drone activity but added, “We can at least conclude that there is primarily one country that poses a threat to Europe’s security and that is Russia.”
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has strongly denied involvement in the drone sightings or any violations of NATO airspace.
About the Author
Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influenced public…Read More
Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influenced public… Read More
Germany
October 03, 2025, 08:05 IST
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