Munich airport cancels 200 flights after security breach sparks lockdown

Authorities at Munich Airport temporarily closed Terminal 2 on Saturday morning after a person managed to skip security checks. 

Bavaria’s Federal Police issued the warning on Twitter at approximately 7.30am GMT, explaining one person entered the secured area of the airport without going through the safety controls. 

The search for the individual sparked the lockdown of the area, putting a hold to operations at the second busiest airport in Germany. 

The terminal was shut between 7.47am and 12.44pm GMT (6.47am – 11.44am CET) while police officers were conducting their investigations.  

The lockdown lasted for approximately two hours and affected both travellers and people working inside the terminal. 

Authorities then informed travellers flights would resume shortly.  

Bavaria’s police tweeted: Current state at MUC_Airport: the Schengen area in T2 has been cleared, searched and just released.

“Intra-Schengen flights on T2 will soon be possible again.” 

Airport operator Flughafen Muenchen GmbH confirmed in a press release flights resumed at 1pm GMT (2pm CET).  

But police did not immediately say whether the person in question had been found or how the security breach happened.

The temporary closure of the terminal sparked chaos in the airport, with dozens taking to Twitter to share their worries and complains about the delays and chaos.  

Journalist and Twitter user Paula Vilen wrote: “Security issue at #Munich airport, all passengers are sent out from terminal 2.

“Our pilot from Helsinki told one person has gone inside the terminal without the security check. Officials try to find this person now. Oh boy!” 

Keeping her followers updated on the events unfolding, she later added: “Looks like we who are connecting can stay inside.

“But not too many information officers here at #Munich airport.

“Now all the restaurants and tax-free stores closed. Looks like we’ll be here for a while.” 

Another social media user, Brian Lorenzen, added: “Absolute madness at Munich Airport due to Terminal 2 security breach. #munichairport”  

He later added that every passenger who cleared security was being redirected through arrivals to go once again through security.

The lockdown affected also people travelling from the UK. 

Richard Johnson, who had a scheduled flight from Britain to Germany, asked on Twitter: “Any news? We’ve had flights delayed in UK because of breach.” 

The Munich lockdown added misery to British people trying to flying to their destinations abroad. 

During the night, a number of flights have been delayed at Stansted Airport, Essex, because of the thunderstorm that swept over southern Britain. 

And more problems were created by Ryanair’s air traffic control staff shortages, which brought the company to cancel a number of flights.