Germany’s Munich Airport (MUC) confirmed today that air traffic control was forced to suspend operations on Thursday evening after drone sightings were confirmed within the airport’s restricted airspace. The mandatory closure led to significant operational disruption, impacting thousands of travelers.
Incident Details and Operational Impact
The suspension was initiated at approximately 7:45 PM local time and lasted for about 90 minutes as safety protocols were enacted to prevent any risk to air traffic. Air traffic control suspended all operations immediately upon confirming the unauthorized activity.
The disruption resulted in the cancellation of 17 flights and severely disrupted travel for nearly 3,000 passengers who were scheduled for departure or arrival during the closure window. In addition, 15 arriving flights were diverted to alternative major hubs, including Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Vienna, and Frankfurt.
“The safety of our passengers, crew, and ground staff remains our highest priority,” the airport said in a statement released early on Friday. “The immediate suspension of operations was an essential step to eliminate the risk posed by the unauthorized drone activity.”
Munich Airport says drone sightings forced air traffic control to halt operations. Several flights were cancelled.
The disruption comes as Munich hosts its world-famous Oktoberfest beer festival. https://t.co/Avfs918W9s pic.twitter.com/VhPmn73u3X
— DW News (@dwnews) October 3, 2025
Law Enforcement and Investigation
Following the incident, the Bavarian State Police and Federal Police were immediately involved and launched a comprehensive investigation to trace and identify the individual responsible for operating the unmanned aerial vehicle.
Operating a drone in the highly restricted airspace of a major international airport is a serious criminal offense under German law, often leading to severe penalties, including hefty fines and potential imprisonment. Authorities are treating the incident with the utmost seriousness.
Airport operations were fully resumed after 9:15 PM following an all-clear signal from security services. Passengers affected by the cancellations and diversions are advised to contact their airlines directly for rebooking and updated flight information.
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