The Japan Times - Munich airport closure 'wake-up call' on drone danger: govt

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 (0300 GMT) 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.

Police said the first sightings occurred around 8:30 pm local time in areas close to the airport, including the towns of Freising and Erding.

Erding plays host to an airfield used by the German military. Bild said some of the drones were spotted flying over the facility, although police could not confirm this.

The first drones near the airport perimeter were seen around 9:05 pm, and then over the airport complex about an hour later.

The sightings ended around midnight, but not before causing the closure of both runways.

The airport said it had provided camp beds, blankets, drinks and snacks for affected passengers.

Police helicopters were deployed but "no information is available on the type and number of drones", police 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.

- 'Drone wall' -

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 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.

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.

H.Nakamura--JT