Munich Airport Suspends Operations Due to Drone Sightings

**Munich Airport Suspends Operations Due to Drone Sightings** Munich Airport in Germany temporarily halted all flights late Thursday night after multiple drone sightings in the vicinity. The airport's operations were suspended shortly after 10 p.m. local time, affecting nearly 3,000 passengers. Seventeen departing flights were canceled, and 15 arriving flights were diverted to other airports, including Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Vienna, and Frankfurt. The airport announced that it set up camp beds and provided blankets, drinks, and snacks for stranded passengers. Flights resumed at 5 a.m. local time on Friday, but authorities did not specify when operations would fully return to normal. Witnesses reported seeing drones around the airport around 9:30 p.m. and again an hour later. This prompted the closure of both runways for about an hour. A police spokesperson stated that German authorities have launched an investigation to determine the origin of the drones. Police helicopters were deployed to search for the drones, but no information was available regarding their type or number. The incident is part of a broader trend of drone sightings disrupting air travel across Europe. Recently, airports in Denmark, Norway, and Poland have also experienced similar incidents. Concerns have been raised that these drone sightings may be linked to Russia, especially in light of recent tensions related to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that the drone incursions indicate a potential escalation of aggression from Moscow. Germany's Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt emphasized the need for new strategies to address this hybrid threat, suggesting that authorities may need to consider measures such as shooting down unauthorized drones. In addition to the Munich incident, drones were spotted over a military base in Belgium, raising further alarms. Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken described the flights as suspicious and stated that an investigation is underway. Experts have noted that the drone overflights could be conducted by various actors, from individuals to organized groups. Hans-Christian Mathiesen, a defense program vice president, stated, "If you have a drone, you can always fly it into restricted airspace and disrupt activity." The recent drone incidents have prompted discussions among European leaders about enhancing defenses against such threats. A summit in Copenhagen focused on establishing a "drone wall" to bolster security measures. Meanwhile, the United States is providing anti-drone technology to Denmark to assist in these efforts. As authorities continue to investigate the drone sightings, the situation remains fluid, with heightened vigilance across Europe regarding airspace security.