Russia Likely Behind Unidentified Drones Over Germany, Merz Says
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has suggested that Russia may be responsible for a recent wave of drone sightings across Germany, including incidents that forced the temporary shutdown of Munich Airport over the weekend.
The Gaze reports this, referring to DW (Deutsche Welle).
Speaking to DW, Merz said Berlin has reason to believe that Moscow is behind “most of these drone flights,” which he described as unprecedented even compared to the Cold War era.
The chancellor confirmed that none of the drones spotted over German or other European territory appeared to be armed, though intelligence indicates they were likely conducting reconnaissance missions targeting sensitive infrastructure.
“Our assumption is that Russia is behind most of these drone flights,” Merz said and called the frequency of such incidents a serious security concern for Europe.
The latest disruption occurred on the night of October 2, when air traffic controllers at Munich Airport detected one or more unidentified drones, prompting an immediate suspension of flights.
Operations were halted from 10:18 p.m. local time, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and forcing the cancellation of 17 departures and the diversion of 15 inbound flights to Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Vienna, and Frankfurt.
Airport authorities provided stranded travelers with beds, blankets, food, and water as they waited for operations to resume.
Flights returned to normal early the following morning, though official confirmation from the authorities has yet to be issued.
The Federal Police reported multiple sightings of drones both near and over the airport and deployed ground patrols and a police helicopter to locate the operators, but without success.
Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius urged calm, saying that investigations are underway and emphasizing that passenger safety remains the top priority.
The incident follows a series of drone sightings over the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein, where aircraft reportedly flew over critical energy and transport infrastructure. Security officials believe the flights were deliberately carried out to gather intelligence on Germany’s defense and civilian assets.
As The Gaze previously reported, the incident involving the appearance of around 15 unknown drones over a Belgian military base has intensified calls for the creation of a joint “drone wall” to protect it.