Germany's Munich airport has halted flights for the second time in 24 hours due to reports of further drone sightings. The latest suspension occurred on Friday evening at 21:30 local time (20:30 GMT), impacting around 6,500 passengers.
This follows a similar incident the previous evening, where at least 17 flights were grounded because of multiple drone sightings in the area. The situation is part of a troubling trend of drone disruptions in European airspace.
Concurrently, Belgian officials were investigating sightings of 15 drones above the Elsenborn military site near the German border. These drones reportedly moved from Belgium into German airspace, where they were also observed in the small town of Düren.
Authorities have struggled to identify the origins or operators of these drones. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt indicated he would raise concerns over anti-drone defenses at an upcoming meeting with European interior ministers. Additionally, he has proposed legislation to empower police to more readily request military intervention against drones.
This wave of drone incidents comes as EU member states convened in Copenhagen to discuss a coordinated response, including establishing a 'drone wall' to rapidly detect and neutralize aerial threats. Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz has suggested that these incursions are becoming more frequent and may be linked to Russian activity, although Moscow has denied involvement.
As drone incidents escalate, with airports in Copenhagen and Oslo also forced to close recently due to similar sightings, discussions around aviation safety and airspace security remain at the forefront of European political agendas.
