MUNICH, Germany – Munich Airport resumed operations Friday morning after a temporary halt disrupted travel.
German authorities announced the suspension of flights at the airport after drones were spotted.
Which caused confusion and disrupted travel.
Munich Airport announced early Friday that drones spotted on Thursday evening forced air traffic control officials to suspend operations.
This resulted in the cancellation of 17 flights and disruption of travel for nearly 3,000 people.
The airport said in a statement that it had diverted 15 other incoming flights to Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Vienna and Frankfurt.
The airport said that air traffic control officials reduced flight operations at Munich Airport from 10:18 pm (20:18 GMT) on Thursday. They suspended them completely later after several drones were spotted.
The statement indicated that beds, blankets, drinks and snacks were provided to the affected passengers in Munich.
Flight cancellations
In turn, German police announced early Friday morning that a number of flights were cancelled at Munich Airport on Thursday evening due to the sighting of drones.
Police said a number of people saw a drone near the airport. It was later seen on the airport grounds.
As a precaution, police said the airport runways were closed late Thursday evening. Teams from both local and federal police also searched the area for drones and suspicious people, but found nothing.
This is the latest disruption to European air traffic. Drone sightings temporarily closed airports in Denmark and Norway last week.
Alert
Germany is on high alert due to the threat of drones. The detection of drones in other European countries has led to the closure of airports.
Poland and Denmark have hinted that Russia is behind the unrest.
Leaders of European Union member states met in Copenhagen on Thursday. They discussed strengthening the Union’s defenses by creating a “drone wall”.
German authorities warned of the increasing threat from these aircraft. A squadron of them flew over the country last week.
Including above military and industrial sites.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrendt said Germany needed to “find new responses to this hybrid threat.” Including shooting down drones.
