Federal police cleared terminals: After a security incident! Cologne/Bonn Airport reopens

Köln – Shock at Cologne/Bonn Airport: Due to a security incident, flight operations were largely stopped on Friday morning. As a federal police spokesman confirmed, departures were no longer possible. The security area of ​​the airport was closed. The all-clear has now been given.

The closure was lifted shortly after 9 a.m. and flight operations resumed. The travelers come back through security to their planes.

Previously, the aviation security checkpoint was closed at 6:37 a.m. and the security area of ​​Terminals 1 and 2 was cleared by the federal police. “A precautionary measure,” said the spokesman.

New technology to blame for lockdown

The security areas of Terminals 1 and 2 had previously been closed for inspection. Özay Tarim, Verdi union secretary for aviation security in North Rhine-Westphalia, to BILD: “According to our information, an employee had properly marked a suspicious piece of luggage for follow-up inspection. However, the piece of luggage did not arrive there, but went straight to the passenger, who ran with it to the gate. The colleague then triggered the security alarm.”

The extent to which this is related to a new security technology that was introduced the day before should be investigated. For trade unionist Tarim, one thing is clear: “The technology used should support people, not replace them. Today people reacted, not the system.”

A spokesman for the airport said that no departures were possible for around two and a half hours due to the police measures. Around a dozen flights were affected. These will now be delayed, but he is not aware of any cancellations yet. Landings were not affected by the closure of the security area and could have taken place, said the spokesman.