People wait on cots after drone sightings and flight cancellations at Munich Airport, Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. Image: Jason Schepljakow/dpa via AP.
(The Post News)– Munich Airport reopened after a temporary closure on Thursday night because many drones were seen close to the airfield, causing a lot of travel problems. The closure started at about 10:00 PM local time, and due to this, 17 flights that were supposed to depart got cancelled, while 15 incoming flights had been diverted towards other airports like Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Vienna, and Frankfurt. Almost three thousand passengers have experienced inconvenience overall.
Authorities said that because it was dark, they couldn’t tell what size or kind the drones were. This means investigators don’t know if people saw them by accident or on purpose. Police used helicopters to watch the area but didn’t catch any drones, and we still don’t know where they came from. The airport staff stressed that keeping passengers safe is most important for them during this time when everything’s shut down.
Passengers left behind overnight recounted a nervous and exasperating ordeal. Numerous individuals received blankets, food, and provisional places to rest as they awaited news. “The uncertainty of whether we could depart or not was very stressful,” expressed Maria Klein, who is traveling from Berlin. “But the airport employees were useful; they informed us about updates often and ensured we had a place to rest.” The flight activities started again early on Friday morning. Around 5:25 AM local time was when the first incoming flight from Bangkok arrived.
Munich Airport Disruption Hits Holiday and Oktoberfest Travelers
This happening is connected to an increasing pattern of issues related to drones across Europe. Airports in Denmark and Norway have also faced similar problems recently, causing governments to make their aviation security measures stronger. There are worries from European officials about possible involvement from outside countries, but no organization has said they were responsible for these acts yet. German officials are looking into all possibilities, even considering the chance of interference backed by a state. Though there have been suggestions about Russian authorities in wider regional disturbances, Moscow denies any involvement. President Vladimir Putin has also dismissed any links to these events.
The drone sightings happened at a very impactful time. Germany was getting ready for its national holiday, Reunification Day, and it was the last weekend of Oktoberfest as well. This is one of the busiest times for travel in the country. The short-term shutdown caused logistical problems for tourists and local travelers too; numerous flights were delayed or moved elsewhere, which made traveling across Europe more difficult.
The airport officials have assured the public about strengthening security steps for avoiding any disturbances in the future. They are reviewing radar systems and growing surveillance during nighttime and also working together with aviation regulators on making rapid-response procedures better.
Authorities have urged caution, as travels have resumed. “Safety and reducing disturbances are our main concerns,” a representative from Munich Airport stated. “We dedicate ourselves to learning from this situation and making sure that flights can run safely without any breaks.”
Munich Airport is still working, and the officials recommend travelers look at flight updates prior to their journey. The inquiry about the drone views continues.
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