Unidentified drones force Munich airport closure
On the night of Oct. 3, 2025, unidentified drones were sighted near Munich Airport, prompting authorities to suspend operations (flights halted at 10:18 p.m. local time) and temporarily close the facility; the disruption affected 17 flights and nearly 3,000 passengers. Belgian officials simultaneously reported multiple drone sightings over the Elsenborn military base and the nearby German town of Düren, where local reporting identified around 15 drones, and European leaders suspect the activity may be probing NATO air defenses amid heightened tensions with Russia.
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🔍 Key Facts
- Munich Airport suspended flights at 10:18 p.m. local time (4:18 p.m. ET) Oct. 3; 17 flights were cancelled or delayed and nearly 3,000 passengers were impacted.
- Local reporting and police in Düren identified roughly 15 drones; a Belgian official confirmed drone sightings over Elsenborn military base in eastern Belgium.
- European capitals are increasingly suspecting Russian involvement; leaders recently met in Copenhagen to discuss boosting air defenses after repeated airspace violations.