Suspected drones force second Munich airport closure in 24 hours

Munich Airport has once again suspended all flights due to unconfirmed drone sightings, marking the second such disruption within 24 hours. The latest suspension occurred on Friday evening at 21:30 local time (20:30 GMT), affecting approximately 6,500 passengers. This follows a similar incident on Thursday evening, where at least 17 flights were grounded after multiple drones were spotted in the vicinity. The disruptions are part of a growing trend of drone-related aviation disturbances across Europe in recent weeks. Authorities in Belgium are also investigating sightings of 15 drones near the Elsenborn military site, close to the German border. Reports indicate that these drones subsequently flew into Germany, where they were observed by police in the town of Düren. The origin and operators of the drones remain unidentified. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has announced plans to address anti-drone defense measures at a European interior ministers’ meeting on Saturday, originally scheduled as a migration summit. Additionally, Dobrindt has pledged to expedite legislation that would empower police to request military assistance in shooting down drones. The recent surge in drone sightings across the EU has prompted discussions at a leaders’ summit in Copenhagen, where several member states have supported the creation of a ‘drone wall’ to detect, track, and destroy Russian drones. Recent incidents include 20 Russian drones crossing into Poland and Russian MiG-31 jets entering Estonian airspace. Airports in Copenhagen and Oslo have also faced closures due to unidentified drones near their airspaces. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has expressed concerns over the increasing frequency of airspace incursions, suggesting that Russia may be responsible. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied any involvement, dismissing the allegations with humor during a summit in Sochi.