Drone chaos at Munich Airport: Oktoberfest visitors in a traffic jam!

Drone chaos at Munich Airport: Oktoberfest visitors in a traffic jam!

On Thursday evening at 9:30 p.m., Munich Airport was temporarily closed due to unidentified drones in the surrounding area. Witnesses had spotted the drones, but the state police were unable to track down the aircraft or their operators. An hour later, the federal police confirmed that drones had also been spotted over the airport, but due to the darkness no information about their size or type could be provided. The airport operator pulled the ripcord at 10:30 p.m. and closed both runways.

As a result, around 3,000 passengers were stranded as 17 flights could no longer take off. The affected travelers were provided with drinks and snacks and found shelter in camp beds provided. A further 15 flights were diverted, including to Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Vienna and Frankfurt. Flights were also restricted from 10 p.m. to midnight for noise protection reasons. As of midnight, regular operations at the airport, which is closed for noise protection reasons, had not yet resumed. It is currently unclear whether this will be the case from 5 a.m. on Friday. The airport is particularly busy at the end of Oktoberfest, the Wiesn.

Increasing drone sightings and dangers

The incidents in Munich don't stop. In general, the figures show that drone sightings at airports in Germany have increased significantly since 2020. Over 140 sightings have already been recorded in 2025, a steep increase compared to only around 25 incidents in 2020. Frankfurt Airport is particularly affected, taking the sad lead with 35 disruptions, followed by Munich with six and Nuremberg with three incidents. The rise in drone sightings is worrying security authorities and traveling passengers alike. Drone flights near airports can not only disrupt air traffic, but also pose a security risk. In Germany, responsibility for detecting and defending against drones lies with the federal and state police, although their equipment is often classified as inadequate.

• Vorfälle mit Drohnen an deutschen Flughäfen:
  • Frankfurt: 35 Behinderungen
  • München: 6 Behinderungen
  • Nürnberg: 3 Behinderungen
• Rechtslage: Strafen können bis zu zehn Jahre Freiheitsstrafe für unerlaubte Drohnenflüge betragen.
• Steigende Kosten für Drohnenabwehr: von 3 Millionen Euro (2020) auf 33 Millionen Euro (2025).

Experts and the airport association ADV are urgently calling for a rethink. In order to meet the major challenges of drone security, legal regulations and clear responsibilities would be necessary. In addition, close cooperation between the federal government, the states and the Bundeswehr is required to ensure effective drone defense. The security authorities agree: Without sufficient investment in modern technology and legal frameworks, the safety of travelers will continue to be at risk. BR emphasizes that Bavaria is particularly affected by developments from abroad in the area of ​​drone sightings, hypothetically in the context of a possible connection to Russia.

While the security forces continue to operate, it remains to be seen how the situation will develop in the coming days and whether the challenges posed by the threat of aerial threats can be solved. The stories surrounding drone flights are by no means an isolated case, and those responsible are called upon to finally find clear solutions.

However, modern technology promises advances in drone defense, and it is to be hoped that security authorities will be given the necessary resources and support to ensure trouble-free airport operations for travelers. Association office reports on efforts to intensify safety and meet the challenges of modern aviation. The topic remains exciting and requires urgent attention - there is something to be done!