Flights at Hamburg Airport have come to a halt this afternoon. There are growing concerns amid a probable threat of attack on an aircraft from Iran.
According to German broadcasting outfit ZDF, services have been suspended at Hamburg Airport due to a threat regarding a plane flying in from Tehran. The publication states that there have been no take-offs or landings since 12:40 local time.
Additionally, the X post below passengers to keep checking their flight status due to federal police action.
Looking at data provided by FlightRadar24.com, traffic stopped at the site. Notably, an incoming Pegasus Airbus A320 from Sabiha Gökçen International Airport has been circling the site since the news has broken out. The aircraft is evidently awaiting updates from the ground before it lands.
Eight flights have diverted to other airports so far. However, more services are set to land elsewhere in the coming moments. Still, a notable arrival that recently landed is Iran Air Flight 723, which touched down in Hamburg at 12:38.
The flag carrier of Iran’s Airbus A330-200 departed Tehran at 08:19, delayed from its 07:45 scheduled departure. The aircraft then landed in Germany after five hours and 49 minutes.
IR723 last flew to Hamburg on October 5th, flying with the same aircraft. Registration EP-IJB is a regular to Europe, heading to Milan, Vienna, Paris, and Cologne all in the last week.
EP-IJB joined Iran Air in March 2017. The twinjet was first introduced in December 2014 with Avianca Brasil before being stored at Teruel, Spain, between January 2015 and February 2017.
Simple Flying reached out to Hamburg Airport’s press team for comment on the matter. A spokesperson for the carrier shared the following: “Due to a federal police measure we have to interrupt in- and outgoing flights for a short period of time.”
According to The Independent, authorities conducted a search of the plane and its 198 occupants. Police have also stated that an email threat was received during the morning regarding an attack on the plane and that it was taking the matter seriously.
The aviation industry is already vigilant following the attacks on Israel over the weekend. The situation is still unfolding and authorities will be extra alert in the coming weeks.
Sources: Simple Flying, ZDF; The Independent; FlightRadar24.com; Planespotters.net
