MUNICH: Munich airport stated on Saturday (Oct 4) it was progressively resuming flights from 7am (1pm, Singapore time), with delays anticipated by way of the day, hours after each runways had been closed for the second time in lower than 24 hours as a result of a drone sighting.
The airport suggested travellers to verify with their airways because it ready for the restart, two hours later than initially scheduled, after the Friday night closure. Dozens of flights had been diverted or cancelled, stranding some 6,500 passengers, authorities stated.
European aviation has repeatedly been thrown into chaos in latest weeks by drone sightings that some authorities have blamed on Russia. The Kremlin has denied any involvement.
Authorities have but to attribute Thursday’s or Friday’s drone sightings to a particular actor.
“German air site visitors management restricted flight operations at Munich Airport as a precautionary measure as a result of unconfirmed drone sightings and suspended them till additional discover,” a press release on the airport web site learn.
In a later replace, the airport stated 23 flights had been diverted, 12 flights to Munich and 48 departures had been cancelled or postponed.
“As on the earlier evening, the airport and airways took care of the passengers,” it added. “Camp beds, blankets, drinks and snacks had been handed out.”
The earlier night, the captain on a London-bound plane whose departure was cancelled advised passengers that runways had been closed “due to drone sightings close to the take-off and touchdown runways” and that police helicopters had been aloft.