Around 3,000 passengers were affected after flights were grounded at Munich airport late on Thursday due to drone sightings.
Police said several people reported seeing drones in and around the airport at about 9.30pm. They were spotted again around an hour later, which led to the closure of both runways.
State and federal police officers monitored the area, searching for any flying objects and suspects, but did not find anything. A police helicopter was also deployed.
German air traffic control (DFS) restricted flight operations at around 10.20pm and later suspended flights altogether due to the sightings.
A spokesperson from Munich airport said: "As a result, 17 flights were unable to take off from Munich that evening, affecting nearly 3,000 passengers."
Airport, emergency staff and airlines worked together to provide camp beds in the terminal and gave out blankets, drinks and snacks to hundreds of stranded travellers.
As well as the cancellations, 15 flights headed for Munich were diverted to Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Vienna and Frankfurt.
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On Friday morning, operations had returned to normal. According to the airport's website, the first take-off, which happened at 5:50am, was a Discover Airlines flight to Varna, Bulgaria.
The Munich airport spokesperson added: "Passengers affected yesterday have been rebooked or their flights will be rescheduled for today."
What do we know about the drones?
German authorities have launched an investigation to identify the origin of the drones at Munich, but little is known so far.
At the moment "no information is available on the type and number of drones," the police spokesperson said. It is understood that the dark conditions late on Thursday made it difficult to find the drones.
Authorities have also not yet said whether there was a specific danger to air traffic or whether these were isolated sightings without an immediate threat.
The incident at Munich is the latest in a string of similar events across Europe. Airports in Denmark, Norway and Poland, among others, have recently suspended flights due to unidentified drones.
Countries hit by drones have been pointing the finger at Russia although it has denied any involvement.
Last week, drones were also sighted over the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein. Authorities there suspect that drones flew over critical infrastructure, including a power plant in Kiel.
The spokesperson from Munich airport said that when a drone is sighted "the safety of travellers is the top priority".
They said that air traffic control, the airport and police authorities are in close contact during a situation like this.
The spokesperson added that "the detection and defence against drones are sovereign tasks and are the responsibility of the federal and state police".
Do drone disruptions happen often?
According to German Air Traffic Control, drone disruptions at airports in Germany have increased significantly.
Just over a week ago, the organisation said 144 disruptions caused by drones had been registered this year up to the end of August.
Last year, there were 113 incidents during the same period, and only 99 in 2023.
At Frankfurt airport alone, Germany's largest air travel hub, 35 disruptions were recorded this year. Drone flights are generally not allowed near airports.
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What's the reaction to the latest drone sightings?
Ralph Beisel, CEO of the German airport association ADV, said the incident showed how vulnerable air traffic is to illegal drone flights.
"Air traffic needs clear responsibilities and effective drone detection and defence," he said.
In view of the increasing threat, conservative faction leader Jens Spahn called for a drone defence system.
The CDU politician told the Bayern media group, "we need an integrated and agile technological ecosystem that allows us to respond immediately".
He added: "We must establish a functioning drone defence system as quickly as possible."
Tensions high in Germany
The incident happened a day before Germany Unity Day, marking 35 years of German reunification. It is a national holiday in Germany, with many people travelling to make the most of the long weekend.
Millions of visitors from all over the world are also attending Oktoberfest in Munich, which runs until Sunday.
The event was hit by a closure on Wednesday due to a bomb threat.
READ ALSO: What we know about the Oktoberfest explosions in Munich
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