The two tracks of Munich airport were closed on Friday evening for the second time in less than 24 hours after the drones were again seen, leading to dozens of flights diverted or canceled and stranded some 6,500 passengers, the authorities announced.
Early Saturday morning, the airport said that its opening scheduled at 5 am was delayed due to drone observations, advising passengers to contact their airlines.
“German air traffic control has restricted flight operations at Munich airport as a precautionary measure due to unconfirmed drone observations and suspended them until further notice,” a press release said on the airport website.
In a later update, the airport said that 23 flights had been diverted, 12 flights to Munich and 48 departures canceled or postponed.
“Like the previous night, the airport and the airlines took care of passengers,” he added. “Camp beds, blankets, drinks and snacks have been distributed.”
The day before, the captain of a plane in London whose departure was canceled told passengers that the slopes had been closed “due to drone observations near takeoff and landing tracks” and that the police helicopters were at altitude.
The airport website has shown that arrivals had been diverted from 8:35 p.m. local time (1835 GMT).
Munich Airport was closed for several hours late Thursday and in short hours after unconfirmed drone observations that disrupted dozens of flights.
European aviation has been thrown out several times in chaos in recent weeks by drone observations that certain authorities have attributed to Russia. The Kremlin denied any involvement.
The German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt promised earlier Friday to advance the legislation allowing the police to ask the military more easily to shoot drones.
