First Prague, then Munich. In a single night, a major European airport in Germany was grounded due to a drone threat. Ultimately, the Czech police resisted the pressure and did not disrupt travel plans for passengers; air traffic continued without interruption.
Czech police announced on X that the threat of drones had not been confirmed but said they remained ready to intervene at any moment. Preventive measures could include shutting down Prague’s Václav Havel Airport, though the current situation did not require it.
If the threat were confirmed, police were prepared not only to close the airspace but also to block access roads. A large number of officers were deployed as part of a wide-ranging operation, with snipers positioned at key points. The actions were expected to continue through the night.
A police statement issued at 10:00 p.m. Friday emphasized that the operation had been launched following a phone threat from an anonymous English-speaking caller who mentioned “larger groups of drones.”
“For tactical reasons, we will not disclose the alleged time of their arrival, but it remains the case that this information is unconfirmed,” the police reported.
Drones Over Munich Airport
Shortly afterward, German police issued a statement. According to Reuters, a pilot was among those who reported seeing drones over Munich Airport. As a result, both runways were closed on Friday evening, marking the second such shutdown in less than 24 hours.
As reported by the dpa news agency, citing an airport spokesperson, Munich Airport once again suspended operations as a precaution following possible new drone sightings. Police later stated that two drones had been observed flying over both runways shortly before 11:00 p.m.
“The drones immediately flew away before they could be identified,” said the airport spokesperson. It remains unclear whether the airport will be able to reopen on Saturday morning.
According to the airport operator, the runway closures led to 23 incoming flights being diverted and 12 others canceled. Additionally, 46 scheduled departures were called off. The disruptions affected 6,500 passengers, who were provided assistance on site.
“Field beds were set up, and blankets, drinks, and snacks were distributed,” the airport’s website reported.
On Thursday evening, 17 flights had already been canceled in Munich following reports of unidentified drones near the airport. Nearly 3,000 passengers were forced to interrupt their travel plans, with many spending the night inside the terminal.
According to dpa, citing police sources, authorities were alerted to the presence of drones near Munich Airport by residents of nearby neighborhoods.
The airport reopened on Friday morning.
In response to these incidents, Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann announced his intention to grant police the authority to shoot down drones when necessary.
“We want to significantly expand the legal powers of the Bavarian police so they can take immediate and effective action against drones. This also means that police will be allowed to shoot them down immediately in the event of a serious threat,” Herrmann told the German press.