Stuttgart, Oct 5. (dpa/GNA) – Air traffic at Stuttgart Airport was temporarily suspended on Monday, due to a police operation after a man claimed to be carrying a bomb, police said.
The fake bomb threat at Stuttgart Airport caused massive traffic chaos and disrupted the journeys of thousands of people.
The Federal Police reported that air traffic had to be suspended for around an hour and a half, between 4:30 pm and 6:00 pm (1430 to 1600 GMT), due to a police operation in the airport’s security area.
A spokesman said after a 24-year-old man told an airport employee following the security check, that he was carrying a bomb in his luggage, the Federal Police had to evacuate the terminals in the security area, and also suspend all arrivals and departures.
The measures were lifted shortly afterwards. A search of the affected area ruled out any actual threat, according to the Federal Police.
The 24-year-old was barred from boarding his flight to Hurghada in Egypt, police said. Preliminary investigations have been launched against him on suspicion of disturbing the peace by making threats of criminal offences. He has now been released.
Air traffic was then gradually resumed and passenger checks reopened. After the affected area had been searched, a threat could be ruled out, the Federal Police stated.Almost 30 flights and some 3,000 people affectedAlmost 30 flights and around 3,000 people were affected by the security measures, an airport spokeswoman said.
Nine flights had to be cancelled entirely. A further nine flights were diverted, mainly via Nuremberg Airport and Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport.
In addition, 11 flights experienced delays of up to three hours. “The evening hours are the peak time at the airport when many flights are scheduled. If there’s a disruption then, it’s really tough,” the spokeswoman added.
According to police, all passengers had to undergo security screening again due to the evacuation of the security area.
It then took some time for the situation to return to normal.
GNA