Overview
- Sunday evening air traffic controllers reported a strong smell of burning in the Munich control tower, prompting an immediate evacuation and a NOTAM that suspended all takeoffs and landings.
- Emergency crews and airport firefighters found no active fire or visible smoke and Federal Police said the situation was unclear but under control.
- Authorities are carrying out detailed checks of the tower’s ventilation and electrical systems and the tower has not been fully cleared for normal staffing.
- Parts of the airport began a phased resumption with a small number of late arrivals, but airlines warn that holding patterns, diversions, gate holds and cancellations will cause delays into Monday.
- Munich is Germany’s second-busiest hub so the tower shutdown has created broad scheduling backlogs and passengers are being urged to check flight status before traveling to the airport.