A small buzzing shape in the sky is becoming one of Europe’s biggest security headaches. In just a few months, unexplained drone sightings have disrupted airports, military bases, and national celebrations across the continent. Now Munich — one of Europe’s busiest hubs — has been forced to halt flights for the second night in a row. And while officials scramble for answers, a growing number of EU governments are pointing to the same culprit.
Munich Airport Shut Down Again After Fresh Drone Sightings
For the second consecutive night, Munich Airport suspended all flights after new reports of unidentified drones near its runways. The interruption began Friday, October 3 at 9:30 p.m., affecting 6,500 passengers and forcing 69 flights to be canceled, diverted, or rescheduled.
Police told AFP that two separate patrols simultaneously reported drone sightings around the north and south runways shortly before 11 p.m. — even though earlier observations had not yet been formally confirmed.
To accommodate stranded travelers, the airport distributed food and set up makeshift sleeping areas. The goal was to reopen by 5 a.m. Saturday, though officials warned that further disruptions were possible.
This marks the second major closure in less than 24 hours. The previous night, more than 30 flights had already been canceled, leaving 3,000 passengers stuck overnight.
Germany Calls It a “National Security Threat”
With Germany celebrating its national reunification holiday, the timing of the shutdown intensified political concern. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt condemned the incidents as a “threat,” telling Bild that authorities must be allowed to shoot down drones immediately rather than wait for confirmation.
Under current German law, only the police — not the military — may neutralize drones in civilian airspace. Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government is now preparing to revise aviation security rules, beginning with discussions expected next Wednesday.
For Berlin, the debate is no longer theoretical. Several drones were confirmed the night before near Erding, where the German army operates an airfield, and directly above Munich’s main civilian airport.
A European Pattern: Other Airports Affected
Munich is not alone. In recent weeks:
- Copenhagen temporarily shut down operations
- Oslo halted several flights because of drone activity
- Poland reported repeated airspace intrusions
- Romania and Estonia flagged suspicious overflights near sensitive military sites
Many governments — particularly Poland, Romania, and Estonia — openly suspect Russia of probing European defenses with low-cost drones. Moscow has denied all allegations.
In early September, Poland accused Russia of sending 19 drones across its airspace. Danish officials have made similar claims, after Copenhagen Airport and multiple military sites were overflown within days of each other.
Where Are the Drones Coming From?
Despite growing suspicion, no firm evidence has yet identified the operators behind these aircraft. Authorities in Denmark, Germany, and Poland say the devices appear to be coordinated, not amateur flights gone wrong.
The broader concern is what these incidents reveal: a gap in NATO’s defensive capabilities. Small, inexpensive drones are difficult to detect and even harder to intercept without disrupting civilian air traffic — a vulnerability that adversaries may be exploiting.
EU Considers an “Anti-Drone Wall”
On Thursday, all 27 EU member states gathered in Copenhagen to address the escalating threat. Among the proposals under discussion: the creation of an EU-wide “anti-drone wall” — a mix of radar, jamming equipment, rapid-response units, and joint intelligence systems capable of intercepting hostile or unidentified drones in real time.
For now, the disruptions continue. And as Munich’s back-to-back shutdowns show, Europe is entering a new era in which airport chaos may come not from weather, strikes, or mechanical issues — but from silent aircraft the size of a dinner plate.
