In a dramatic turn of events that left thousands stranded and officials scrambling for answers, Munich Airport—one of Germany’s busiest aviation hubs—was forced to close its runways twice within 24 hours due to mysterious drone sightings. The disruptions, which began on Thursday night and continued through Friday evening, October 3, 2025, have amplified concerns about the vulnerability of European airspace and coincided with the deeply symbolic 35th anniversary of German reunification.
According to DW and Agence France-Presse, the initial closure late Thursday into Friday, October 2-3, affected almost 3,000 passengers and saw more than 30 flights canceled or diverted. Just as the airport was recovering, a second wave of drone sightings forced both runways to close again on Friday evening at precisely 9:34 p.m. local time. Federal police confirmed that two drones were spotted near the airport’s north and south runways shortly before 11 p.m. Friday. The drones, however, vanished before authorities could identify them, leaving investigators with more questions than answers.
By Saturday morning, October 4, 2025, the airport began a gradual reopening at 7 a.m., though flights typically start as early as 5 a.m. The backlog was immense: 23 arriving flights had to be diverted, 12 incoming flights were canceled, and 46 departures were either canceled or postponed, impacting at least 6,500 passengers overnight. "As on the previous night, Munich Airport worked with the airlines to immediately provide for passengers in the terminals. Camp beds were set up, and blankets, drinks, and snacks were distributed," the airport said in a statement, as reported by DW.
The chaos wasn’t limited to commercial aviation. Earlier on Friday, a drone was also sighted above a German military installation in the nearby town of Erding, northeast of Munich. The base, which now houses a drone development lab, has become a focal point for security concerns. A spokesperson for the Bundeswehr (German armed forces) told DW, "We have appropriate protection concepts for our security-relevant properties," emphasizing that local police handle security outside military facilities.
While authorities have not publicly identified who is behind these incursions, the timing and persistence of the incidents have raised alarms across Europe. The Munich disruptions were part of a broader pattern: Lithuania's main airport in Vilnius was also briefly closed overnight Saturday into Sunday, October 4-5, 2025, after a possible sighting of balloons. The airspace reopened at 4:50 a.m. local time Sunday. Similar episodes have been reported over airports and critical infrastructure in Denmark, Norway, and Poland, with some European officials hinting at possible Russian involvement. Russian authorities, however, have categorically denied any connection, including in recent drone incidents in Denmark.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen addressed the broader threat, stating, "Russia tries to test us. But Russia also tries to sow division and anxiety in our societies." Her remarks, cited by DW, capture the unease gripping EU member states as they face a new era of unconventional security challenges.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt didn’t mince words in his reaction, calling the drone incidents a "wake-up call." In an interview with Bild, Dobrindt declared, "The drone sightings over Munich are another wake-up call: The race between drone threats and drone defense is becoming increasingly fierce. We now need more funding, support, and research—nationally and at the European level." He later confirmed that he and his European counterparts would discuss a coordinated "drone detection and defense plan" during a weekend meeting in Munich.
Amidst the logistical mayhem, the country also paused to celebrate a milestone: the 35th anniversary of German reunification. The official festivities took place in Saarbrücken, in the southwestern state of Saarland, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron as guests of honor. The timing was poignant, as both leaders addressed the fragility of democracy and the mounting security threats facing Europe today.
Chancellor Merz, reflecting on the day’s significance, remarked, "We are celebrating the 35th year of being united in peace. For decades we were divided, but soon we will have lived in one country as long as we had been living in separate countries." He painted a sobering picture of the current geopolitical climate: "New alliances of autocracies are forming against us and attacking liberal democracy as a way of life. The global economic order is being rewritten. Customs barriers are being erected and selfishness is growing. This too is weakening us economically."
Merz also touched on the impact of irregular migration and internal divisions, urging Germans to recognize the value of democracy and the rule of law. "Politics, the state, the government have their responsibility," he said, "But the scale of the challenge must be understood by us all, by every citizen in our country."
French President Emmanuel Macron echoed these concerns, describing German reunification as "a turning point in history" and warning that Europe’s peace and prosperity remain fragile. "There are rifts, fractures in our democracies," Macron said. "Our generation now has a choice, to be doubting, to be fatigued, to choose extremes that are fake promises or do we want to stand up and live with our new era and make it a bold, determined era, together."
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also weighed in, expressing concern that "the political center has less and less support, especially in the east of our country, and this at a time when our democracy as a whole is being increasingly challenged." In a veiled reference to the rising popularity of the far-right Alternative for Germany, Steinmeier added, "Let's not allow our democracy to be further damaged. Let us stand against it."
As for the affected travelers, Munich Airport and airlines scrambled to provide accommodations—camp beds in terminals, blankets, and snacks—while the backlog slowly cleared. A spokesperson for Lufthansa, Germany’s flagship carrier, told DW that "flight operations have since resumed according to schedule," though the ripple effects were expected to last throughout the weekend.
The incidents at Munich and Vilnius airports, coupled with similar drone-related disruptions across the continent, underscore a new reality: the skies over Europe are no longer just the domain of airplanes and birds. As drone technology becomes more accessible, authorities face the daunting task of keeping their airspace—and the people who depend on it—safe from both mischief and malice. With leaders calling for unity and vigilance, the anniversary of German reunification served as both a celebration and a sober reminder that peace, security, and democracy require constant defense.
