The disruption comes as Munich hosts its world-famous Oktoberfest beer festival, which runs until Sunday. Last week, Denmark and Norway closed airports due to drones.
Munich airport said early on Friday that drone sightings on Thursday evening had forced air traffic control to halt operations.
What has been the disruption to Munich airport?
This had prompted the cancellation of 17 flights, disrupting travel for nearly 3,000 passengers at the airport in the southern German state of Bavaria.
Another 15 arriving flights were diverted to Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Vienna and Frankfurt, the airport said in a statement.
German police said the airport’s runways were closed late in the evening as a precaution.
Police officers searched the area for suspicious individuals but found nothing. A police helicopter was also deployed.
Munich airport reopened later on Friday after the disruption.
Denmark and Norway airport closures
The development comes after sightings temporarily shut airports in Denmark and Norway last week.
The incident comes as Germany’s Oktoberfest, which draws hundreds of thousands of people every day to Munich, is approaching its final weekend.
German Interior Minister says drone sightings a ‘wake-up call’
Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told German publication Bild that the drone incident in Munich was a “wake-up call.”
“The drone sightings over Munich are another wake-up call: The race between drone threats and drone defense is becoming increasingly fierce,” Dobrindt told the country’s largest circulation publication.
“We now need more funding, support, and research — nationally and at the European level,” Dobrindt said.
German authorities have launched a search to identify the origin of the drones.
Edited by: Srinivas Mazumdaru
DW News
