Munich Airport has been forced to shut for a second night running, after drones were detected in its airspace. A spokesperson for the airport’s police said both runways were closed.
The closure comes as Prague Airport was placed on high alert following reports of an “unverified threat” of drone activity. There was a heavy police presence at the airport following an apparent tip-off from an English-speaking source. Czech police said in a statement: “We are prepared to immediately take measures related to the closure of airspace and simultaneously close all access roads.
“Snipers from the foreign police are monitoring potential objects in the air from their positions.”
Unidentified drones have caused chaos to air traffic across Europe in recents days and weeks.
Flights were cancelled and diverted on Thursday night at Munich for the first time, following sightings of drones in the vicinity of the airport. Officials cancelled flights and closed the airport two hours ahead of its usual midnight to 05:00am curfew.
Incoming planes were redirected to to Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Vienna and Frankfurt.
“Nineteen Lufthansa flights were affected, either cancelled or re-routed, because of the airport suspension,” a spokesperson said.
Police confirmed that the drones were first seen at 9.30pm local time, and then again an hour later.
Earlier on Thursday, 15 drones were spotted above the Elsenborn military site in Belgium, near the German border.
The UAVs then reportedly flew towards Germany and were seen above the small town of Düren.
Last week, Copenhagen and Oslo airports were also forced to close after unidentified drones were spotted near airport and military airspaces.
Suspicion has fallen on Russia, but the Kremlin has denied any involvement in the incidents.
Russian President Vladimir Putin laughed off suggestions he ordered drones to Denmark, during a summit in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Thursday.