Drones reappear, Munich Airport closes again in less than 24 hours
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According to Xinhua News Agency, Munich Airport in Germany was closed on the evening of the 3rd due to drone sightings, marking the second closure within 24 hours.
According to the BBC, the airport issued a statement on the evening of the 3rd saying that operations were suspended at 9:30 p.m. that evening.
DPA reported that the suspension resulted in 46 flights being unable to depart, 23 arriving flights being diverted to other airports, and 12 flights to Munich being canceled, affecting approximately 6,500 passengers.
Less than 24 hours earlier, German air traffic control had restricted flights at Munich Airport from 10:18 p.m. on the 2nd due to multiple drone sightings, and subsequently completely suspended operations. That evening, 17 flights were unable to depart, and another 15 arriving flights were diverted to other airports, affecting nearly 3,000 passengers. Operations resumed on the morning of the 3rd.
According to German air traffic control, drone interference at German airports has increased significantly in recent years. From January to August this year, German airports reported 144 drone interference incidents, compared to 113 last year and 99 in the same period the year before. Frankfurt Airport, Germany's largest aviation hub, has seen at least 35 drone interference incidents this year.