Hamburg Airport resumes operations after security alert triggers evacuation UPDATED

Hamburg Airport has gradually resumed operations after a security alert triggered a full terminal evacuation and disrupted flights on Friday (June 12) afternoon.

Airport officials said the incident began when a passenger inadvertently activated an emergency door, briefly gaining access to a restricted security area in Terminal 2, setting off an alarm, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The individual was quickly detained by airport police and taken for questioning, according to a spokesperson cited by German media.

Despite the swift detention, authorities ordered a precautionary sweep of secure zones, leading to the evacuation of passengers who had already passed through security screening. Travellers onboard aircraft were also instructed to disembark as departures were temporarily suspended.

The disruption caused significant delays, with some passengers reporting waiting times of up to three hours as security checks and terminal operations were restored.

Airport authorities said services were being resumed in stages once the area was declared safe.

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A major police operation is currently underway at Hamburg Airport in northern Germany, prompting widespread disruption and the evacuation of a security zone, according to local media reports citing the Federal Police.

Authorities have not yet disclosed the nature of the operation, with officers continuing to search an area within the airport perimeter, German media says.

Officials said details of what is being sought remain unclear.

The airport operator, Flughafen Hamburg GmbH, confirmed that all departures have been temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure. Passengers inside the terminal were instructed via loudspeaker announcements that flights from Hamburg had been cancelled until further notice.

Disruption extended onto aircraft already at the gates, with some passengers reportedly asked to disembark after boarding. Departure boards indicated delays of up to three hours, with further knock-on effects expected as the situation develops.

By Aghakazim Guliyev