Cliff Notes – Germany should ‘get power to shoot down drones’, official says
- German officials advocate for the authority to shoot down drones in response to recent disruptions at Munich airport caused by drone sightings, which left nearly 3,000 passengers stranded.
- Following similar drone incidents affecting multiple European nations, including Denmark and Norway, EU leaders are supporting measures to enhance anti-drone defences across the bloc.
- Despite suggestions of Russian involvement in these airspace violations, the Kremlin has denied any responsibility, with President Putin making light of the situation.
Vladimir Putin denies involvement in airspace violations
Germany should “get the power to shoot down” drones in its airspace, an official has said, after incursions led to major disruption at Munich airport.
Nearly 3,000 passengers were left stranded late on Thursday after several drone sightings forced air traffic control to suspend operations, leading to cancellations and diversions.
It was the latest in a series of similar incidents that have rattled Europe, raising concerns about attacks on Ukraine’s allies, possibly directed by Russia.
Markus Soeder, the premier of Bavaria, has said: “Our police must get the power to shoot drones down.”
He told German publication Bild: “We need sovereignty over our airspace.”
Federal police deployed helicopters and other means to try to track down the drones, but no signs of them could be found, a spokesperson for Germany‘s federal police said.
Flights resumed at 5am local time (3am in the UK).
It comes after airspace intrusions last week shut airports in Denmark and Norway – after which European Union leaders at a Copenhagen summit backed plans to bolster the bloc’s anti-drone defences.
