Part 12/18:
Most notably, Munich Airport experienced two shutdowns after drone sightings in quick succession, leaving over 11,500 passengers stranded. The German authorities suspect the drones are used for military reconnaissance, though definitive origins remain elusive. Drones have also been reported near key military bases such as Bavaria’s Erding Research Center and the Belgian Elsenborn military station, regions with strategic importance.
European defense officials have framed these incursions as deliberate testing of detection and response capabilities. Germany’s interior minister announced plans to bolster drone defenses, permitting police to request military intervention to shoot down hostile drones—a move reflective of escalating concerns.