Close to 3,000 travelers left stranded as drones/” title=”Copenhagen Airport Shuts Down Amid Mysterious 'Unidentified Drone' Sightings | Latest Russia-Ukraine War Updates”>drone sightings disrupt airport operations. Similar events were reported recently in Denmark and Norway.
Operations at Munich Airport in Germany came to a halt following multiple drone detections, resulting in the cancellation of 17 flights, the rerouting of 15 others, and leaving approximately 3,000 passengers stranded.
According to the airport, German air traffic control first reported drone activity at 10:18 pm local time (20:18 GMT) on Thursday night. This initially led to partial flight restrictions, which escalated into a complete shutdown of airport operations.
Munich Airport confirmed that 15 inbound flights were redirected to alternative airports including Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Vienna, and Frankfurt.
Reports from Germany’s DPA news agency indicated that eyewitnesses spotted drones near the airport vicinity, with subsequent observations of drones flying over the airport premises.
Authorities deployed police helicopters to investigate; however, a police representative informed DPA that details regarding the number and types of drones remain unclear.
To support the nearly 3,000 affected passengers, airline and airport personnel arranged temporary accommodations with camp beds, blankets, and meals.
The airport emphasized, “Passenger safety is paramount whenever drones are detected.”
It also clarified that drone detection and countermeasures fall under the jurisdiction of federal and state police forces.
Flight monitoring platform Flightradar24 announced that Munich Airport would stay closed until early Friday morning.
Following drone sightings over Munich Airport last night, the facility remains closed until 02:59 UTC this morning. Fourteen flights were diverted. https://t.co/CFDGoduFWa pic.twitter.com/b5hwFI4xVZ
– Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) October 3, 2025
This incident at Munich follows a series of drone-related disruptions that caused temporary airport closures in Denmark and Norway last week.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen hinted at possible Russian involvement in the drone disturbances affecting several airports across Denmark.
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at the Valdai Discussion Forum in Sochi, made light of European accusations that Russian drones had violated NATO airspace. He humorously assured that he would refrain from sending drones to Denmark again and claimed Russia lacks drones capable of reaching Lisbon, Portugal.
“I won’t send any more drones to France or Denmark, Copenhagen. Where else are they flying?” Putin joked.
“Seriously though, we do not possess drones with the range to reach Lisbon,” he added.
In response to these incursions, European Union leaders convened in Copenhagen on Wednesday to endorse measures aimed at strengthening the bloc’s defenses against Russian drone threats.
“Europe must be equipped to protect itself,” Prime Minister Frederiksen stated following the EU summit.
“We need to enhance our drone manufacturing and anti-drone technologies, including establishing a European-wide network capable of detecting and neutralizing external drone intrusions,” she explained.
Last month, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed creating a “drone shield”-a comprehensive system of sensors and countermeasures designed to identify, track, and disable unauthorized unmanned aerial vehicles-to safeguard Europe’s eastern borders.
This proposal came shortly after nearly 20 Russian drones reportedly entered Polish airspace.
Moscow has denied any involvement in these drone incursions, accusing European nations of fabricating claims to escalate tensions.
