Munich Airport Smoke Scare
Munich Airport Resumes Operations After Control Tower Evacuated Due to Smoke Odor
Munich Airport temporarily halted flight operations on Sunday evening after staff reported an intense smell of smoke in the control tower, leading to an evacuation at 8:33 p.m. Local media and officials indicated the disruption may have been a false alarm, with firefighters finding no visible fire or smoke. German air traffic control suspended operations until the situation was assessed, and the pause caused delays and broader schedule knock-on effects for passengers. The airport said operations resumed by 10:15 p.m., though travelers were advised to expect disruptions and check with their airlines for updated departures and connections. Police said the cause of the odor remained unclear as authorities continued investigating.
Key Points
In a statement posted on its website, Munich Airport said the “(control) tower at Munich Airport was evacuated at 8.33pm due to the smell of smoke” and that German air traffic control “has suspended flight operations until further notice,” adding that more information would follow.
A police spokesman, speaking to DPA, said the situation remained unclear and that the fire brigade was assessing it; the airport spokesman also said, “It was not a fire, and no flames were visible,” adding, “We don't know exactly yet.”
Reports indicated the disruption was not absolute: the police spokesman said flight operations were only “partially” suspended, and late-Sunday online schedules still showed check-ins continuing; some arrivals and departures were delayed and “some flights reportedly being diverted.”
An AFP report said take-offs and landings were stopped from 8:33 pm (1833 GMT) after staff reported an “intense smell”; firefighters found no fire or smoke, and the report noted local fire and police did not immediately respond to AFP inquiries about when air traffic would resume.
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