Munich Airport Paralyzed as Second Drone Sighting in 24 Hours Forces Closure
Travel Chaos Mounts as German Aviation Hub Repeats Emergency Shutdown, Thousands Left Stranded
PARIS – For the second time in a single day, Munich Airport, one of Germany’s busiest transport hubs, was forced to a complete standstill on Saturday following further unconfirmed sightings of unauthorized drones.
The latest incident, which occurred at approximately 1:45 p.m. local time, prompted airport authorities to halt all take-offs and landings, unleashing a fresh wave of chaos and stranding thousands of passengers who had only just begun to recover from a similar shutdown on Friday afternoon.
The initial closure on Friday, lasting over three hours during the busy evening schedule, was already causing severe disruption across European air travel. Just as operations were normalising this morning, the new suspected drone sighting triggered an immediate and mandatory safety response, grounding all flights indefinitely.
“A repeat sighting of an unmanned aircraft in the airport’s controlled airspace has been reported. For safety reasons, air traffic must be stopped until further notice,” a spokesperson for the airport announced in a terse statement. “All passengers are urgently advised to check their flight status with their airline before travelling to the airport.”
The repeated disruptions have left travellers frustrated and weary. Scenes from the terminal showed long, snaking queues at service desks, with families and business travellers alike facing an uncertain wait.
“I was supposed to fly to Paris for a wedding yesterday. My flight was cancelled, I slept on the floor, and now this happens again,” said Jean-Luc Durand, a French national caught in the turmoil. “It’s a complete nightmare. No one can tell us when we might leave.”
Aviation law in Germany and across the EU mandates a zero-tolerance approach to drones near airports, following high-profile security and safety incidents in recent years. Even unconfirmed sightings necessitate an immediate shutdown, as a collision between an aircraft and a drone could have catastrophic consequences.
German federal police have confirmed they are investigating both incidents. “We are using all available technical means to locate the operator of these devices. Flying drones in this zone is not only illegal but immensely irresponsible,” a police representative stated.
The ripple effects of the double closure are being felt continent-wide. Airlines are facing a logistical nightmare, with aircraft and crews out of position. Flights to and from Paris Charles de Gaulle, Amsterdam Schiphol, and London Heathrow have been particularly affected.
Lufthansa, the airport’s main carrier, has issued a blanket waiver for passengers travelling to or from Munich, allowing rebooking free of charge.
As of 4:00 p.m. CET, there is no indication of when the airspace might reopen. For the thousands stranded in Munich and the countless others awaiting flights across Europe, the wait for answers continues.
The Paris Telegraph News Desk
Date: October 4, 2025