Munich airport begins slow reopening after late-night drone sightings

By Karin Strohecker

MUNICH (GWN) -Munich airport said on Saturday it was steadily resuming flights from 7 a.m. (0500 GMT), with delays anticipated through the day, hours after both runways have been closed for the second time in less than 24 hours due to a drone sighting.

The airport suggested travellers to test with their airways as it ready for the restart, two hours later than initially scheduled, after the Friday night closure.

Dozens of flights had been diverted or cancelled, stranding some 6,500 passengers, authorities said.

European aviation has repeatedly been thrown into chaos in latest weeks by drone sightings that some authorities have blamed on Russia. The Kremlin has denied any involvement.

Authorities have yet to attribute Thursday’s or Friday’s drone sightings to a particular actor.

“German air traffic control restricted flight operations at Munich Airport as a precautionary measure due to unconfirmed drone sightings and suspended them until further notice,” a assertion on the airport web site read.

In a later update, the airport said 23 flights have been diverted, 12 flights to Munich and 48 departures cancelled or postponed.

“As on the previous night, the airport and airlines took care of the passengers,” it added. “Camp beds, blankets, drinks and snacks were handed out.”

The earlier night, the captain on a London-bound plane whose departure was cancelled told passengers that runways had been closed “because of drone sightings near the take-off and landing runways” and that police helicopters have been aloft.

The airport web site confirmed due arrivals had been diverted beginning at 8:35 p.m. (1835 GMT).

Munich airport was closed for a number of hours late on Thursday and in the small hours after unconfirmed drone sightings that disrupted dozens of flights.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt promised earlier on Friday to carry ahead laws making it simpler for the police to ask the navy to shoot drones down.

(Reporting by Karin Strohecker and Mrinmay Dey, extra reporting by Kirsti Knolle; Writing by Thomas Escritt; Editing by Chris Reese, Rosalba O’Brien and William Mallard)