Munich: Flights Resume After Drone Intrusion – Germany’s Air Travel Security Debate Intensifies

After a new drone intrusion near Munich Airport in Germany early Saturday (04.10.2025), flights gradually resumed following several hours of complete paralysis. Both runways were shut Friday night for the second time in under 24 hours due to two unidentified drones. German authorities said nearly 6,500 passengers were affected, with dozens of flights diverted or canceled. Beds were placed in the terminal, and blankets, drinks, and snacks were distributed. ‘Operations are being restored gradually,’ an airport spokesperson said, warning of delays throughout the day. Reuters images showed passengers sleeping on the floor—a scene repeating from Thursday night, when drones had already forced a temporary halt in air traffic, stranding around 3,000 passengers and canceling 17 flights. The federal police, responsible for detection and interception, have not yet identified the drones or their operators. Suspicions point to foreign interference, as recent similar incidents in Europe have been attributed to Russia—a claim the Kremlin denies. With rising incidents, German officials are calling for tougher responses. Bavarian Premier Markus Söder (CSU) demanded a ‘clear rule: immediate shoot-down instead of waiting,’ urging police to have the power to destroy any threatening drone. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) also backed a new aviation security law allowing military involvement in drone defense, citing growing threats from unmanned aircraft now reaching wingspans of up to eight meters. The issue is expected to be discussed this weekend in Munich during a meeting of European interior ministers, originally focused on migration. The goal is to establish a unified strategy for detecting and neutralizing drones as incidents multiply over critical infrastructure across Europe.