MUNICH (AP) - Munich Airport, one of Germany’s largest airports, experienced a temporary closure on Saturday night due to unverified reports of drones in the area, according to federal police. The airport was shut down for safety precautions as authorities attempted to investigate the situation but found no evidence to support the claims. The closure lasted for approximately one hour, with operations resuming before midnight.

Initial sightings of what were described as “suspicious observations” were reported around 10 p.m. local time, lasting for about 30 minutes. They were followed by a second wave of sightings at around 11 p.m. for another half-hour. Federal police and airport officials received reports from various individuals, including security personnel and airport staff, who claimed to have seen the drones.

While the closure raised concerns among travelers, the impact on flights was reported to be minor. The airport confirmed that three flights were diverted as a result of the situation; however, two of those later managed to land safely in Munich. Additionally, one departure was canceled due to the disturbances caused by the drone reports.

Following an extensive search, federal police declared that no drones or suspicious individuals were found in the vicinity of the airport. This incident at Munich Airport adds to a series of recent disruptions caused by mysterious drone sightings in the airspace over European Union member countries. Earlier in the month, Munich Airport faced two separate closures within a 24-hour span due to similar drone-related sightings, leading to significant disruptions that affected thousands of passengers.

The ongoing uncertainty surrounding drone overflights in key European airspaces raises alarms for airport securities and officials. Measures to ensure the safety of air travel during such incidents are expected to be a point of concern for authorities as investigations continue to determine the origins and intentions behind these unidentified drone sightings.

In summary, while Munich Airport's operations returned to normal by Sunday morning, the incident highlights the increasing frequency of drone-related disruptions in European airspace and the challenges that authorities face in managing security in such situations.