Munich Airport Shutdown: Drone Sightings Leave Thousands Stranded Overnight
Munich Airport experienced significant disruption on Thursday evening due to reported drone sightings. Air traffic was halted, and thousands of passengers were left stranded overnight. The incident has sparked calls for enhanced drone defense systems.
The chaos began around 10:18 PM, with air traffic control (DFS) reporting drone sightings near the airport. Consequently, all incoming and outgoing flights were grounded. A total of 32 flights were affected, with 15 incoming flights rerouted to other airports and 17 aircraft prevented from taking off.
Approximately 3000 passengers were left stranded, spending the night on temporary beds set up at the airport. Flight operations resumed the following morning at 5:50 AM.
The incident comes amidst increased tension following several drone sightings over critical infrastructure in northern Germany in late September. Despite extensive police searches and investigations, no drones, suspects, or sources have been found. Authorities are now treating it as an illegal act and are exploring leads, including a suspicious transport ship flying under a Caribbean flag.
In response to the incident, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has announced plans to establish a new drone defense center to bolster internal security. Jens Spahn, the leader of the Union parliamentary group, has also called for the immediate establishment of a functioning drone defense system.
The drone incident at Munich Airport has underscored the urgent need for effective drone detection and countermeasures. With no suspects identified and the responsible party still unknown, authorities are committed to strengthening security measures to prevent such disruptions in the future.
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