The drones that forced Munich airport to close on Thursday and Friday evening in the middle of Oktoberfest were ‘military’, a report has confirmed.
German news outlet Bild reported that the drones spotted hovering over the travel hub were military in nature, as flights resumed ‘progressively’ today with visitors to the city still affected by delays.
Yesterday saw the second evening of drone scares cause the airport to shut down again, with 23 incoming flights diverted and 12 bound for Munich being cancelled.
The airport said in a statement on its website that ‘because of unconfirmed drone sightings air traffic has been cancelled until further notice’ – the latest in a spate of such incidents heightening security fears in Europe.
The operator said that over 6,500 passengers were affected, while 46 departures from the airport had to be cancelled or delayed until today, causing yet more delays as Germany remains on high alert.
The disruption came as the country celebrated German Unity Day on Friday – a national holiday – and as Munich geared up for the final weekend of Oktoberfest, which draws hundreds of thousands of people the city every day.
Airports in Denmark, Norway and Poland have also recently suspended flights due to unidentified drones.
Romania and Estonia have pointed the finger at Russia, which has brushed off the allegations.
Munich Airport was closed on Thursday and Friday evening after drone sightings, causing delays and affecting thousands of passengers
The airport closure comes as revellers flock to Munich ahead of the final weekend of its world famous Oktoberfest Beer Festival
A police spokesman said that there were ‘two simultaneous confirmed drone sightings by police patrols just before 11pm (on Friday) around the north and south runways.
‘The drones immediately moved away, before they could be identified.’
The first disruption due to drone sightings, on Thursday, had caused more than 30 flights to be cancelled there and left nearly 3,000 passengers stranded.
Police said drones were spotted throughout that day in areas close to the airport, including the towns of Freising and Erding.
Erding plays host to an airfield used by the German military. It was reported in German media that some of the drones were spotted flying over the facility, although police could not confirm this.
The sightings caused the closure of both runways.
Police helicopters were deployed but authorities said they had no information about the type or number of drones involved.
Early on Friday German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the first night’s incident was a ‘wake-up call’ on the threat from drones.
A soldier of the German armed forces demonstrates a HP 47 drone jammer during the defence exercise ‘Red Storm Bravo’ in which civilian and military coordination is trained and led by German army Bundeswehr in Hamburg, Germany, September 26, 2025
‘The race between the threat from drones and the defence against drones is becoming more and more difficult,’ he told Bild, adding that ‘more financing and research’ on the issue was urgently needed at the national and European levels.
German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI) CEO Marie-Christine von Hahn said the incident proved the need to develop an anti-drone defence system as quickly as possible.
‘We now need to act quickly, together with politics, industry and security authorities,’ she said, adding that ‘We as an industry are ready to do our part in this security partnership.’
The German government is expected on Wednesday to sign off on plans for a change in the law to let the army shoot drones down if necessary.
The Bavarian interior ministry has requested surveillance support from the German army, a military spokeswoman told DLF radio station.
The drone sightings in Denmark and high-profile aerial incursions in Estonia and Poland have heightened fears that Russia’s assault on Ukraine could spill over Europe’s borders.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Europe on Thursday that the recent drone incursions showed Moscow was looking to ‘escalate’ its aggression.
Germany is now on high alert, saying a swarm of drones had flown over the country last week, including over military and industrial sites.
A severely damaged house in the village of Wyryki in eastern Poland, where one of the Russian drones that breached Polish airspace collided with the building
Denmark also raised the alarm, with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reiterating last week that only one country ‘poses a threat to Europe’s security – and that’s Russia.’
Moscow said it ‘firmly rejects’ any suggestion of involvement, with Russian President Vladimir Putin accusing Europe of stoking ‘hysteria’ to justify rising military spending.
Yesterday morning, the Federal Police’s drone detection system reported a drone in the western area of Frankfurt Airport – approximately 700 metres away. The Hesse Police immediately initiated extensive search measures.
Officers were able to arrest a 41-year-old Croatian man who was piloting the drone.
He is now facing administrative offence proceedings and an investigation is underway into why he was at the airport with the drone.
The drones that forced Munich airport to close on Thursday and Friday evening in the middle of Oktoberfest were ‘military’, a report has confirmed.
German news outlet Bild reported that the drones spotted hovering over the travel hub were military in nature, as flights resumed ‘progressively’ today with visitors to the city still affected by delays.
Yesterday saw the second evening of drone scares cause the airport to shut down again, with 23 incoming flights diverted and 12 bound for Munich being cancelled.
The airport said in a statement on its website that ‘because of unconfirmed drone sightings air traffic has been cancelled until further notice’ – the latest in a spate of such incidents heightening security fears in Europe.
The operator said that over 6,500 passengers were affected, while 46 departures from the airport had to be cancelled or delayed until today, causing yet more delays as Germany remains on high alert.
The disruption came as the country celebrated German Unity Day on Friday – a national holiday – and as Munich geared up for the final weekend of Oktoberfest, which draws hundreds of thousands of people the city every day.
Airports in Denmark, Norway and Poland have also recently suspended flights due to unidentified drones.
Romania and Estonia have pointed the finger at Russia, which has brushed off the allegations.
Munich Airport was closed on Thursday and Friday evening after drone sightings, causing delays and affecting thousands of passengers
The airport closure comes as revellers flock to Munich ahead of the final weekend of its world famous Oktoberfest Beer Festival
A police spokesman said that there were ‘two simultaneous confirmed drone sightings by police patrols just before 11pm (on Friday) around the north and south runways.
‘The drones immediately moved away, before they could be identified.’
The first disruption due to drone sightings, on Thursday, had caused more than 30 flights to be cancelled there and left nearly 3,000 passengers stranded.
Police said drones were spotted throughout that day in areas close to the airport, including the towns of Freising and Erding.
Erding plays host to an airfield used by the German military. It was reported in German media that some of the drones were spotted flying over the facility, although police could not confirm this.
The sightings caused the closure of both runways.
Police helicopters were deployed but authorities said they had no information about the type or number of drones involved.
Early on Friday German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the first night’s incident was a ‘wake-up call’ on the threat from drones.
A soldier of the German armed forces demonstrates a HP 47 drone jammer during the defence exercise ‘Red Storm Bravo’ in which civilian and military coordination is trained and led by German army Bundeswehr in Hamburg, Germany, September 26, 2025
‘The race between the threat from drones and the defence against drones is becoming more and more difficult,’ he told Bild, adding that ‘more financing and research’ on the issue was urgently needed at the national and European levels.
German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI) CEO Marie-Christine von Hahn said the incident proved the need to develop an anti-drone defence system as quickly as possible.
‘We now need to act quickly, together with politics, industry and security authorities,’ she said, adding that ‘We as an industry are ready to do our part in this security partnership.’
The German government is expected on Wednesday to sign off on plans for a change in the law to let the army shoot drones down if necessary.
The Bavarian interior ministry has requested surveillance support from the German army, a military spokeswoman told DLF radio station.
The drone sightings in Denmark and high-profile aerial incursions in Estonia and Poland have heightened fears that Russia’s assault on Ukraine could spill over Europe’s borders.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Europe on Thursday that the recent drone incursions showed Moscow was looking to ‘escalate’ its aggression.
Germany is now on high alert, saying a swarm of drones had flown over the country last week, including over military and industrial sites.
A severely damaged house in the village of Wyryki in eastern Poland, where one of the Russian drones that breached Polish airspace collided with the building
Denmark also raised the alarm, with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reiterating last week that only one country ‘poses a threat to Europe’s security – and that’s Russia.’
Moscow said it ‘firmly rejects’ any suggestion of involvement, with Russian President Vladimir Putin accusing Europe of stoking ‘hysteria’ to justify rising military spending.
Yesterday morning, the Federal Police’s drone detection system reported a drone in the western area of Frankfurt Airport – approximately 700 metres away. The Hesse Police immediately initiated extensive search measures.
Officers were able to arrest a 41-year-old Croatian man who was piloting the drone.
He is now facing administrative offence proceedings and an investigation is underway into why he was at the airport with the drone.
