Germany’s Munich Airport temporarily closed Thursday night after several drone sightings, the airport announced in a news release.
The airport said that German air traffic control first restricted flight traffic at 10:18 p.m. local time, and then suspended all incoming and departing flights.
In total, 17 departing flights could not take off from Munich, while 15 incoming flights were diverted to Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Vienna and Frankfurt, the airport added. The airport and airlines provided camp beds, blankets, drinks and snacks to passengers on the departing flights.
“When a drone is sighted, the safety of travelers is the top priority,” airport officials added in the release. “Reporting chains between air traffic control, the airport, and police authorities have been established for years.
“It is important to emphasize that the detection and defense against drones are sovereign tasks and are the responsibility of the federal and state police.”
Munich is located in the southern German state of Bavaria. Last week, multiple drones were seen over the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, which borders Denmark.
Several airports in Denmark, including in Copenhagen, also temporarily closed due to drone sightings last week. The Danish defense ministry said Saturday that drones were spotted over some military bases.
Ahead of the European Union Summit in Copenhagen on Wednesday, Germany, France and Sweden pledged to provide anti-drone capabilities to Denmark, the country’s defense ministry said on Monday.
On Wednesday, the grounds at Theresienwiese — where Munich’s Oktoberfest celebration is held — were closed due to a bomb threat. Local police identified a 57-year-old man, who died by an apparent suicide, as the suspect.
