Drone chaos at Munich Airport: 6,500 passengers affected!

Drone chaos at Munich Airport: 6,500 passengers affected!

On Saturday morning, October 4, 2025, Munich Airport (MUC) decided to resume flight operations following recent disruptions caused by suspected drone sightings. Numerous flights had to be suspended on Friday evening after drones were reported sightings in the northern and southern runway area. Despite intensive investigations, including by the police and airport fire brigade, those responsible remained unidentified and the drones could not be located. This led to a precautionary restriction on flight operations from 9:30 p.m., which also caused some problems the next morning. ORF reports that a total of 6,500 passengers were affected by the flight cancellations, and at least 46 flights had to be canceled and incoming flights had to be rerouted.

The situation at the airport was tense. Many of the affected passengers had to spend the night there and received support in the form of cots, blankets, drinks and snacks provided by the police and the airport fire department. Flight operations gradually resumed on Saturday morning, but it remained unclear how many flights were ultimately able to take off as scheduled, as drone sightings continued to leave question marks. Affected passengers are asked to check the status of their flights before traveling as disruptions are still expected.

Drone sightings – threat to aviation

The incidents at Munich Airport should not be viewed in isolation. According to Tagesschau, there were also sightings of drones at other locations, such as in Schleswig-Holstein, which may have flown over critical infrastructure. The situation is also worrying in view of current events in Europe. Experts such as Manuel Atug warn that Germany is ill-prepared for such drone threats and are calling for more countermeasures. The complexity of drone defense makes effective responses difficult. Responsibility lies between the state and federal police, and technical solutions such as intercepting or shooting down drones can also pose risks for regular air traffic.

Air traffic is increasingly at risk from unauthorized drone flights. Leading politicians, including Union parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn, are calling for the immediate establishment of a structured drone defense to ensure security in aviation. ZDF underlines the importance of a technological ecosystem in order to be able to react quickly to drone threats. In this light, the discussion about a new drone defense center, as proposed by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, is particularly topical.

The continuous reports about drones, including over military facilities, raise questions, especially regarding possible governmental backgrounds that could reach as far as Russia. A sharpening of the legal basis and operational strategies is necessary in order to effectively counter such threats and to ensure the safety of both passengers and critical infrastructure.