Berlin (AFP) – German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said Friday that the temporary closure of Munich airport after drone sightings was a “wake-up call” about the threat from drones, which have caused a string of similar aviation disruptions across Europe. Airports in Denmark, Norway, and Poland have recently suspended flights due to unidentified drones, while Romania and Estonia have pointed the finger at Russia, which has brushed off the allegations.
Munich became the latest to close its airspace on Thursday night after several drone sightings, causing more than 30 flights to be cancelled or diverted and leaving nearly 3,000 passengers stranded. Dobrindt told the Bild newspaper that the incident was “another wake-up call.” “The race between the threat from drones and the defence against drones is becoming more and more difficult,” he said, adding that “more financing and research” on the issue was urgently needed at the national and European levels.
A spokesman for Munich airport said in a statement sent to AFP that “flight operations resumed as normal from 5:00 am on Friday morning.” “Passengers who were affected by the closure yesterday have been booked on new flights and flights cancelled yesterday will be rescheduled for today,” he added. A spokesperson for German flag carrier Lufthansa also said “flight operations have since resumed according to schedule.” “Nineteen Lufthansa flights were affected — either cancelled or re-routed — because of the airport suspension,” the spokesperson said.
A police spokesperson earlier told AFP that several people spotted drones around the airport at about 1930 GMT on Thursday, and again an hour later, leading to the closure of both runways for an hour. The airport said it had laid on camp beds, blankets, drinks, and snacks for affected passengers. German authorities have launched a search to identify the origin of the drones. Police helicopters were deployed but “no information is available on the type and number of drones,” the spokesperson said.
The incident came ahead of German Unity Day — a national holiday — and the final weekend of Oktoberfest, which draws hundreds of thousands of people to Munich every day. The annual beer gala and funfair had already closed for half a day on Wednesday after a bomb scare.
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. Bavarian state premier Markus Soeder told Bild that “we must be able to shoot (drones) down immediately instead of waiting” and said that the police should also have the power to do so. The drone sightings in Denmark and high-profile aerial incursions by Moscow 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 on high alert, saying a swarm of them had flown over the country last week, including over military and industrial sites. Dobrindt said Berlin needed to “find new responses to this hybrid threat” — including potentially shooting down the drones. 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.
EU heads of state met in Copenhagen this week to discuss bolstering the bloc’s defences with the establishment of a “drone wall.” Denmark accepted a Swedish offer of Stockholm’s anti-drone technology to ensure the meeting could proceed without disruption. Meanwhile, the United States is sending anti-drone defences to Denmark, Copenhagen’s defence ministry said. NATO has said it has “enhanced vigilance” in the Baltic following the airspace intrusions.
© 2024 AFP
