German Airport Briefly Closed, Jets Scrambled Over In-Flight Emergency
A passenger plane from Greece was escorted by fighter jets to Nuremberg Airport after an in-flight emergency prompted airport closure and an investigation.
Authorities in Germany briefly closed Nuremberg Airport and scrambled fighter jets to escort a passenger plane originating from Corfu, Greece, on Tuesday due to concerns about an in-flight emergency, according to German news agency dpa.
Police secured the airport in southern Germany and initiated an investigation. The commercial aircraft landed safely, and an all-clear was subsequently issued. Details regarding the nature of the emergency call were not immediately released. Earlier on Tuesday, airport authorities had noted a potential drone sighting.
As a precautionary measure, six flights experienced delays, and two inbound flights were diverted to alternative airports, a spokesperson for Nuremberg Airport confirmed. The airport's closure affected operations for a limited time.
This incident occurs amid heightened aerial surveillance across Europe. In recent weeks, authorities have increased monitoring due to a rise in mostly unexplained drone incidents and concerns about Russian activities related to the ongoing war in Ukraine. In November, the German government accused Russia of an attempted attack using an explosive-laden drone at Leipzig/Halle Airport in August, leading to retaliatory measures including the closure of a Russian consulate. Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied these allegations. Western officials have frequently accused Moscow of orchestrating sabotage and disruption campaigns aimed at undermining support for Ukraine and destabilizing European nations.