Bavaria Moves to Shoot Down Drones After Munich Airport Chaos
Munich Airport experienced consecutive disruptions on October 3-4, resulting in 17 flight cancellations and 15 diversions, impacting nearly 3,000 passengers. In response, Bavaria's cabinet approved a draft law to empower state police to destroy threatening drones. This move aligns with a broader European response to drone incidents.
Earlier, German police deployed a laser-based system at Munich Airport to detect and track unauthorized drones. Following these incidents, Germany's interior minister is preparing national legislation to strengthen counter-drone authorities and coordination, including police requesting armed-forces assistance. EU leaders in Copenhagen backed enhanced anti-drone defenses.
The Bavarian initiative is part of a broader European response, following temporary airport closures in Denmark and Norway, and multiple sightings near critical infrastructure in Germany and Belgium. Federal agencies involved in supporting state police include the Bundespolizei, Bundeswehr (under specific legal conditions), Bundeskriminalamt, and Zoll, with plans to establish a joint drone defense center to enhance cooperation.
Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann stated that police should be allowed to shoot down drones in 'acute danger' scenarios, with decisions being both lawful and proportionate. Ralph Beisel, head of the German airports association, warned that drone activity disrupting flight operations damages confidence in air travel reliability.
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