Germany's second-busiest airport has been plunged into chaos after multiple unauthorised drone sightings forced a complete shutdown during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
Total Ground Stop Amid Oktoberfest Celebrations
Munich Airport authorities initiated a full ground stop on Wednesday afternoon after air traffic control detected several drones operating illegally in restricted airspace. The unprecedented closure comes during the height of Oktoberfest, when the airport typically handles tens of thousands of additional passengers attending the world-famous beer festival.
All flight operations were suspended indefinitely, with incoming aircraft being diverted to alternative airports across Germany and neighbouring countries. Departing passengers faced massive disruption as check-in counters closed and flights were cancelled across the board.
Security Protocol Triggers Widespread Disruption
German aviation law mandates immediate airport closures when drones are detected in controlled airspace, treating such incidents as potential security threats. Airport officials confirmed that "multiple drone sightings" had been reported by both air traffic control and ground staff, prompting the emergency response.
The timing couldn't be worse for travellers, with many attempting to reach Munich for the opening weekend of Oktoberfest, which attracts approximately six million visitors annually. Social media quickly filled with images of crowded terminals and frustrated passengers receiving minimal information about when operations might resume.
Aviation Experts Warn of Growing Threat
This incident highlights the increasing challenge drones pose to aviation security worldwide. Similar closures have occurred at major airports including Gatwick and Heathrow in recent years, causing travel chaos for hundreds of thousands of passengers.
German federal police have launched an investigation to identify the drone operators, who face severe penalties including substantial fines and potential imprisonment for endangering air traffic. Aviation authorities are working to implement enhanced drone detection technology, but today's events demonstrate the vulnerability of even the most sophisticated airport security systems to this emerging threat.
Passengers are advised to contact their airlines directly for flight status updates and expect significant delays even after the airport reopens, as airlines work to clear the backlog of cancelled and diverted flights.
