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Munich has become a growing number of European airfields affected by UAV observations in recent weeks, with 17 canceled journeys, 15 sent to other airports, and many flyers facing problems to their trips during the night.

Multiple witnesses claimed spotting unmanned aircraft close to the aviation facility, with a additional observation subsequently verified within the no-fly area, forcing aviation authorities to halt activities pending inquiry.

It is still uncertain the quantity of, or of what type, unmanned aircraft were present.

The incident happens right before the last weekend of the Oktoberfest gathering, which had earlier encountered issues earlier this week due to a bomb threat in the urban area.

Germany’s flight safety authority, the German aviation control body in charge of the country’s flight paths, stated last week that UAV observations close to aviation hubs are on the up, with 144 reported so far in this year, compared with 113 the previous year, and 99 in the year before last.

Expect the sightings and the associated problems to reignite the conversation about Europe’s air defences, shortly after the European Union summit in the Danish capital showed some disagreements – mainly along regional divisions – about the newly proposed “drone wall” plan.

It’s the third of October, 2025, and we bring you European updates.

Key Points

• Germany’s second-largest airport encountered substantial journey disruptions due to UAV reports.
• 17 journeys were grounded, and fifteen were rerouted.
• Thousands of passengers experienced travel disruptions overnight.
• The event happened just before the closing weekend of the Bavarian celebration.
• UAV observations close to the nation’s airfields have been increasing in the past few years.
• The events are anticipated to fuel debates on EU sky protection and the proposed “drone wall” initiative.