Munich Airport evacuates control tower, suspends flights for 8.33pm smoke smell

Munich Airport evacuated its control tower at 8.33pm local time after a smell of smoke and temporarily suspended flights. The airport said operations had resumed by 10.15pm, but passengers were told to expect delays and disruptions and to contact their airline for an update.

Control tower evacuation

The tower houses air traffic controllers, so the evacuation took effect at the point where flight movements are directed. Munich Airport is the second-busiest airport in Germany after Frankfurt and one of the busiest in Europe, which left a large number of passengers exposed to knock-on delays during the evening pause.

Flight suspensions at Munich Airport

Flights were paused after the evacuation, then restarted when the airport said operations had resumed at 10.15pm. For passengers, the practical step was simple: check with the airline rather than assume a scheduled departure would still run on time.

Passenger updates in Munich

The airport’s warning pointed to a short but immediate ripple across the schedule. Travelers already at the airport needed to follow airline updates, while anyone heading there faced the risk that the evening disruption could still affect boarding, timing, and connections even after the tower reopened.