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(file picture) All departures were reportedly cancelled this morning at Hamburg Airport (Image: Getty)
Police officers have stormed a major European airport over a "police situation". All departures were cancelled on Friday morning at Hamburg Airport in Germany and the security area was evacuated by police, local media reports.
The nature of the incident prompting the halt to flights was not immediately clear, with German news outlet Bild reporting officers describing a "police situation" at the air hub. Several travellers have taken to X this morning to share their experience, with one, Olivier Marschalik, writing: "They have just evacuated all passengers that were passed security at Hamburg Airport. No explanations beyond 'security reasons'."
Local media reports citing the Federal Police are now saying that a person had allegedly gained unauthorised access to the secure area after pressing an emergency exit button on a door in Terminal 2. The individual has since been detained and is being held at the Federal Police station at the airport.
An update on Hamburg airport's website says: "Flights are currently unable to depart, but arrivals are proceeding as scheduled. Please contact your airline."
Fire crews are reportedly on standby outside Terminal 1.
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RECAP: What happened at Hamburg airport?
-A man gained unauthorised access to the secure area at Hamburg Airport after pressing an emergency exit button.
-Federal Police said the man had likely simply lost his way.
-Airport spokeswoman Katja Bromm said the man was quickly located and brought back to the public area.
-As a precaution, authorities evacuated the entire secure area of the airport.
-Passengers who had already passed through security, including those on board aircraft, were required to leave.
-Departures were temporarily suspended, although arrivals continued.
-Travellers had to undergo security screening again, leading to lengthy queues.
-The disruption caused significant flight delays and cancellations throughout the day.
-Hamburg Airport later confirmed the Federal Police operation had ended and passengers were once again passing through security.
-Flight operations resumed, but the airport warned that significant delays and further cancellations were expected.
Man brought back to public area after security breach
The person at the centre of the Hamburg Airport security incident has been confirmed to be a man, according to airport spokeswoman Katja Bromm.
The man reportedly gained unauthorised access to the airport's secure area after pressing an emergency button that opened an escape route at around 9.45am local time.
Speaking to the Express, Bromm said:
"At Hamburg Airport, a male passenger accidentally used an emergency exit and pressed a large button to open the door.
"The Federal Police immediately located this passenger and escorted him back to the public area.
"However, in such cases, the Federal Police must take precautionary measures and completely evacuate the passenger terminal. All passengers must then go through security screening again.
"Flight operations in Hamburg are now resuming, but we expect delays throughout the day.
A Federal Police spokesperson has since said the man had likely lost his way.
Flight operations resume but significant delays and cancellations expected
An airport spokesperson said:
"The precautionary measure taken by the federal police has ended and passengers are now passing through security again. Flight operations are resuming."
The spokesperson added that there would be "delays, some of them significant, throughout the day" and that flights would also be cancelled, although the number of cancellations has not been confirmed.
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Security queues soar after Hamburg Airport evacuation
Passengers at Hamburg Airport are facing lengthy waits after being required to undergo security screening again following the evacuation of the secure area.
Qsensor, a travel data platform that tracks airport security wait times, said delays at Hamburg Airport were significantly longer than usual. The service reported an average wait of 38 minutes across all security lines, compared with a typical wait of seven minutes.
In an update, Qsensor advised travellers to "plan extra time for security screening" as disruption continues at the airport.
\u26a0\ufe0f Security Wait Times at Hamburg Airport (HAM) are longer than usual!
Avg. across all lines:
Current: 38 min
Typical: 7 min
Difference: +31 min
Plan extra time for security screening.
Check our website for details.
Hamburg Airport says flights unable to departure with arrival unaffected
Hamburg Airport has confirmed that flights are currently unable to depart, although arrivals are continuing as scheduled.
In an update on its website, the airport said:
"Flights are currently unable to depart, but arrivals are proceeding as scheduled. Please contact your airline."
Fire crews on standby outside Hamburg Airport
Fire crews are on standby outside Hamburg Airport as the ongoing police operation continues.
According to Swiss news outlet 20 Minuten, the fire department has been positioned outside Terminal 1 and at the Airport Plaza complex while authorities deal with the incident.
Terminal 1 pictured at 10.30am BST (Image: 1000eyes.de)
Flight delays of more than three hours shown at Hamburg Airport
Information boards at Hamburg Airport are reportedly showing delays of more than three hours as the ongoing police operation continues.
According to several German media outlets, several flights have been affected by the disruption after the airport's secure area was evacuated and departures temporarily suspended.
Terminal 2 pictured just before 11am (Image: 1000eyes.de)
Person detained after entering secure area at Hamburg Airport
A person has been detained after allegedly gaining unauthorised access to the secure area at Hamburg Airport, according to German newspaper Bild.
Citing the Federal Police, the outlet reported that the individual pressed an emergency exit button on a door in Terminal 2 before entering the restricted area. The person is now being held at the Federal Police station at the airport.
Bild said authorities decided to search the entire secure area following the incident. A Federal Police spokesperson added that all passengers beyond the security checkpoints had to leave the area, including those who had already boarded aircraft and were required to disembark.
Passengers already on board flights asked to leave aircraft
Passengers who had already boarded flights at Hamburg Airport were asked to leave their aircraft during the ongoing police operation.
According to Spiegel, citing the Federal Police, the measures affected the secure area of the airport, where passengers who had already passed through security screening were located.
The report said travellers in the secure zone, including those who had already boarded aircraft, had to leave the area while authorities dealt with the incident.
Secure area only affected, according to local media
According to German news outlet Spiegel, the closure at Hamburg Airport only affected the secure area where passengers who had already passed through security screening were located.
Citing the Federal Police, the report said other parts of the airport remained accessible during the ongoing police operation.
Hamburg Airport passengers told 'no departures possible', according to Bild
According to German newspaper Bild, passengers in the terminal are being informed via loudspeaker announcements that no departures are currently possible.
It remains unclear how long the disruption will last.
A social media user has shared live footage from Hamburg Airport
A social media user has shared live footage from Hamburg Airport webcams as the police operation continues.
The video, posted on X, appears to show activity inside Terminal 2 amid the ongoing disruption.
Suspicious object reports remain unconfirmed
German media outlet BILD says it has obtained information that a suspicious object may have prompted the operation.
The Federal Police have so far only described the incident as a "police situation".
Officials have yet to confirm the exact nature of the security alert.
Passenger says travellers evacuated 'for security reasons'
A passenger caught up in the disruption at Hamburg Airport has claimed that everyone who had passed through security was suddenly evacuated "for security reasons".
Posting on X, Olivier Marschalik wrote: "They have just evacuated all passengers that were passed security at Hamburg Airport. No explanations beyond 'security reasons'."
The traveller also asked British Airways whether the airline's scheduled 11am flight from Hamburg to London Heathrow would wait for passengers to pass through security again.
At the time of writing, British Airways had replied:
"We're sorry you're having this experience. We haven't received any updates for this flight, please speak with a member of the team at the airport who may be able to advise further."
They have just evacuated all passengers that were passed security at #hamburg #airport No explanations beyond "security reasons". @British_Airways do you have any update on your 11 am flight from HAM to LHR?
will the flight wait for passengers to pass security again?
Police operation disrupts Hamburg Airport
A major police operation is under way at Hamburg Airport after the security area was evacuated and departing flights were temporarily suspended.
Germany's Federal Police have confirmed an ongoing "police situation", with passengers ordered to leave the secure area of the terminal. Travellers who had already boarded aircraft were also asked to disembark.
We will bring you more updates as they arrive.
2 hours ago10:08 Alice Scarsi
Welcome to our live blog
Welcome to our live blog. We'll bring you the latest on the incident at Hamburg Airport.
English (US) · 