Munich Airport was closed for nearly seven hours overnight following a series of reported drone sightings in the area, becoming the latest European hub to experience disruption linked to unidentified aerial devices. According to local authorities, the airport suspended arrivals and departures from approximately 10 p.m. until operations were deemed safe to resume at 5 a.m. local time.

A Wider Pattern

This incident follows a string of similar reports from airports in Denmark and Norway in recent weeks, which collectively affected tens of thousands of passengers. Aviation authorities across Europe have stepped up monitoring efforts, but so far no definitive explanation for the sightings has been offered. One source of frustration is the lack of clear imagery or detailed descriptions, despite repeated events near sensitive sites, including U.S. Air Force bases, over the past year.

The trend is not limited to civilian airports. Belgian defense authorities are currently investigating the sighting of 15 drones over the military training base of Elsenborn, located in the East Cantons near the German border (source). This suggests that both civilian and military sites in Europe are being affected by unusual aerial activity.

Questioning the Theories

Skepticism has also been expressed toward theories that the drones are linked to Russia’s so-called “dark fleet.” Munich, being far from the ocean, seems an unlikely target for naval-based launches. The idea that drones could be launched from the Adriatic Sea and successfully flown over the Alps raises logistical doubts.

To reach Munich, drones would have to travel hundreds of kilometers over heavily monitored European airspace, potentially crossing multiple national borders undetected.

Vagueness in Reports

A major problem with these incidents is the lack of precision in how the sightings are described. Reports usually refer to “drones,” but the term itself can mean very different things. It might refer to a small, off-the-shelf civilian quadcopter that hobbyists use, or to a much larger and more sophisticated military-style UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle).

The word “drone” may even be a stand-in for something less understood. Some analysts suggest that what is being observed could fall under the broader category of UAPs. However, the absence of photographs, radar data, or clear descriptions makes it impossible to know which category these sightings fall into.