13.10.2026 17:41
Germany's Nuremberg Airport was temporarily closed to flights after a passenger plane coming from the Greek island of Corfu sent an emergency code and radio contact with the pilot was lost. While German fighter jets took off amid possible suspicion of a hijacking, the passenger plane landed safely.
Nuremberg Airport in Germany was temporarily closed to flights after a passenger plane arriving from the Greek island of Corfu sent an emergency code indicating a possible hijacking and radio contact with the pilot was lost. German fighter jets escorted the passenger plane, and the aircraft landed safely.
EMERGENCY CODE WAS SENT
The incident occurred on Tuesday, October 13, on a Boeing 737 aircraft belonging to Corendon Airlines, flight number XR456, which was preparing to land at Albrecht Dürer Airport in the German city of Nuremberg.
The aircraft, which had taken off from Corfu, sent the international 7500 emergency code indicating a possible hijacking to air traffic control. Then, after radio contact with the pilot was lost, security units sprang into action.
FIGHTER JETS ESCORTED
After the emergency notification from the aircraft, Eurofighter fighter jets belonging to the German Air Force took off. While security forces took precautions around the airport, it was reported that special operations units were also dispatched to the area.
Flight operations at Nuremberg Airport were temporarily halted. The Corendon Airlines aircraft landed safely at 12:16 local time.
PASSENGERS ON BOARD WERE SAFELY EVACUATED
After the landing, security checks were carried out on and around the aircraft. It was reported that passengers, who were initially kept on the plane, were taken to the terminal by buses after the checks.
Police announced that no danger was detected in the examinations. Authorities reported that the investigation into the cause of the emergency alarm was ongoing.
REASON THE CODE WAS SENT WAS EXPLAINED
In a statement made by Corendon Airlines, it was stated that the emergency code was sent after a radio communication system failure experienced over Croatian airspace.
Thus, it was assessed that the incident, which initially led to suspicion of hijacking, was caused by a technical malfunction in the communication system. While the authorities' investigation continues, it was reported that there was no danger on the aircraft.
DRONE ALARM ALSO OCCURRED AT THE SAME AIRPORT
In another incident at Nuremberg Airport on the same day, three pilots reported seeing a suspicious object near the airport during takeoff or landing in the night hours.
Following possible drone reports, police teams conducted a search with special detection devices and helicopter support. However, no evidence indicating that a drone was present was found during the efforts.
Authorities announced that it has not yet been determined whether there is a connection between the drone reports at night and the incident that later caused a flight safety alarm.