Key events
CDU/CSU parliamentary leader calls for ‘immediate’ work on drone defence system
Jens Spahn, leader of the ruling CDU/CSU party’s parliamentary grouping in the Bundestag, said the incident highlighted the need for “an integrated and agile” system that would allow to neutralise drones “immediately.”
“We must establish a functioning drone defence system as quickly as possible,” he told local Bavarian media.
Morning opening: Munich drone sightings add urgency to discussions on EU drone wall
Jakub Krupa
Munich has joined a growing list of European airport disrupted by drone sightings in recent weeks, with 17 flights cancelled, 15 diverted elsewhere, and thousands of passengers facing disruption to their travel overnight.
Several people reported seeing drones near the airport, with a further sighting later confirmed within the restricted zone, forcing air traffic control to suspend operations pending investigation.
It remains unclear how many, or of what type, drones were involved.
The disruption comes just before the closing weekend of the Oktoberfest beer festival, which had already seen disruption earlier this week due to a bomb threat in the city.
Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH, the German air navigation service provider responsible for the German airspace, said last week that drone sightings near airports are on the up, with 144 reported so far in 2025, compared with 113 in 2024, and 99 in 2023, Süddeutsche Zeitung reported.
Expect the sightings and the associated disruption to reignite the debate about Europe’s air defences, just after the EU leaders’ meeting in Copenhagen revealed some disagreements – mostly along the geographical lines – about the newly proposed “drone wall” project.
I will bring you all reactions here.
It’s Friday, 3 October 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.