Drone chaos at Munich Airport: thousands of travelers stranded!

Drone chaos at Munich Airport: thousands of travelers stranded!

On Saturday morning, drone sightings caused considerable chaosMunich airport, which has been temporarily blocked due to this threat. Many travelers were forced to stay at the airport overnight while security authorities tried to clarify the situation. The airport remained paralyzed and there were significant delays until flight operations resumed at 7:00 a.m.

Thousands of passengers had to spend the night in makeshift shelter while the airport provided cots, blankets, air mattresses, drinks and snacks. Some shops extended their opening hours or stayed open all night to cater to stranded travelers. According to reports, the drones spotted may have been military reconnaissance drones, further complicating the security situation. Focus highlights that drone sightings on Friday evening also led to an interruption in operations, affecting around 6,500 passengers.

Authorities on alert

To bring the situation under control, the authorities have taken measures. Police used lasers and radar devices on the northern runway to detect drones, while a helicopter monitored the airspace above the airport. The support from the Bundeswehr was organized at the request of the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior, which reignited the discussion about the use of the military domestically. Federal Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD) warned against excessive deployment of the Bundeswehr, while Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) is already planning to set up an adapted drone defense unit within the Federal Police [ZDF](https://www.zdfheute.de/politik/deutschland/muenchen-bundeswehr-drohnen-hubig-100.html#:~:text=Dronen%20haben%20den%20M%C3%BCnchn The %20 airport %20 was temporarily %20 paralyzed.

Although flights have now resumed, the risk of further disruption remains. Despite intensive searches, security authorities were unable to identify anyone responsible for the drone sightings. This uncertainty is leading to growing resentment among passengers and the aviation industry, which is demanding quick solutions to improve drone detection and defense. Marie-Christine von Hahn, Chief Executive Officer of the BDLI, emphasized the significant threat posed by drones to national security and economic development [Tagesspiegel](https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/fähr-fur-passagier planes-so-bad-sind-deutsche-flughafen-gegen-drohnen-gesicher-14342345.html).

The challenges of security technology

A general trend shows that drone sightings are becoming more and more common at German airports. There have already been 144 reports this year, an increase compared to 92 sightings in 2019. Experts warn that many drone pilots are not following the regulations. Defending drones is a complex challenge that involves various authorities and, in the chaos, responsibility is often unclearly distributed.

With Oktoberfest just around the corner, the threat of air traffic could be restricted even further. The pressure is growing on the security authorities to take effective measures to counter drones as quickly as possible. The aviation association ADV is calling for a clear legal framework and state-funded technologies to detect and defend against drones in order to sustainably improve safety in the airspace.