Drone Alert Grounds Flights at Munich Airport for One Hour
Munich, Germany, June 4, 2026 – Air traffic at Munich Airport was brought to a standstill for approximately one hour on Saturday morning following a suspected drone sighting. Take-offs and landings were suspended around 9:00 AM after two pilots independently reported seeing a suspicious drone. The alert was lifted around 10:05 AM, a spokesperson for the airport confirmed.
Immediate Response to Pilot Reports
The German Federal Police confirmed that two pilots reported a suspicious observation at 9:03 AM. Both pilots independently stated that they had seen a suspected drone. This prompted an immediate investigation, which included the deployment of a police helicopter. Federal and Bavarian state police forces extensively searched the entire airport area.
No Threat Found, Flights Resume
After no suspicious objects were found, the airspace restriction was lifted, and air traffic gradually resumed. Both runways have since been reopened. The airport spokesperson emphasized that the airport itself was not closed; passengers were still able to access the facility, park, check in, and pass through security controls during the suspension of runway operations.
26 Flights Diverted During Incident
A total of 26 aircraft were unable to land at Munich Airport due to the closure and were diverted to alternative airports. According to the airport spokesperson, these included Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Frankfurt, Linz, Salzburg, and Leipzig. Flights that were temporarily grounded at Munich Airport were able to depart with delays.
The incident occurred during the Whitsun holidays in Bavaria, a period of high activity at the airport. “On a day like today, a total of around 900 flights with approximately 120,000 passengers take off and land,” the spokesperson stated.
Previous Drone Incidents at Munich Airport
This is not the first time suspected drones have caused disruptions at German airports. In early October, Munich Airport experienced similar incidents on two consecutive evenings, leading to the suspension of air traffic twice. Dozens of flights were diverted or canceled, affecting thousands of travelers, some of whom had to spend the night at the airport. Another brief drone alarm was reported at Munich Airport in November.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the latest drone sighting. The repeated occurrences highlight ongoing challenges in managing and securing airspace around major transportation hubs from unauthorized drone activity.
