Drone sightings cause chaos at Munich Airport!

Drone sightings cause chaos at Munich Airport!

Nothing worked at Munich Airport late in the evening of October 3, 2025. Sightings of unknown drones led to the complete cessation of flight operations. This disruption affected almost 3,000 passengers and caused chaos in the Bavarian metropolis. According to reports from daily news A total of 17 flights were canceled, while 15 arriving aircraft were diverted to Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Vienna and Frankfurt.

The night was anything but pleasant for many travelers: Due to the unexpected situation, numerous passengers had to spend the night in the airport. Police and airport fire departments set up cots in the terminal to provide at least some comfort. Flight operations were finally able to resume early in the morning, although it was still unclear how some failures were attributed BR reported.

Drones in the dark – uncertainty remains

The sightings occurred around 9:30 p.m. and again at 10:30 p.m. This looming threat could not be further described in the darkness: neither the type nor size of the drones are known, and it remains unclear whether it was one or more drones. A police helicopter searched the area, but without success. Authority spokesman Stefan Bayer stated that protection against such incidents must be clearly regulated.

The incidents at Munich Airport are not isolated. More than 140 drone sightings have been reported in Germany this year alone German Airport Association (ADV) leads. The association calls for clear responsibility and government funding for modern defense systems to ensure the safety of air traffic.

Oktoberfest and flight cancellations – a shaky balancing act

The current occurrences could also have an impact on the Oktoberfest, which is currently taking place in Munich and lasts until Sunday. The airport has had a ban on night flights for regular passenger traffic since midnight in order to comply with noise regulations. However, there is great concern that repeated drone sightings could have a massive impact on operations, not only at Munich Airport, but also at other German airports where similar incidents have occurred.

The increasing threat posed by illegal drone flights is alarming and calls for decisive political action. Union parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn in particular called for the rapid establishment of effective drone defense in Germany. The safety of civil aviation now depends crucially on the measures taken by those responsible for politics; after all, these incidents could ultimately cause economic damage and frustration among travelers.

It remains to be seen how the relevant authorities will respond to this growing threat in order to ensure flight operations and protect travelers.