Hamburg airport closed due to discovery of 450kg World War II bomb with all flights cancelled

HAMBURG Airport has been shut down after a massive WW2 bomb was found nearby. Aviation officials made the decision to stop hundreds of flights after the 450kg explosive was uncovered this afternoon. One passenger told Mirror Online how his plane was left waiting on the runway after the discovery was made. He said: “We were meant […]

HAMBURG Airport has been shut down after a massive WW2 bomb was found nearby.

Aviation officials made the decision to stop hundreds of flights after the 450kg explosive was uncovered this afternoon.

Alamy

One passenger told Mirror Online how his plane was left waiting on the runway after the discovery was made.

He said: “We were meant to depart at 7.55pm. We have just got of plane to go back to airport. People are relaxed.

“There is not much information on whats going on and how long (it will take before flights resume).”

A statement on the airport’s website reads: “Due to a finding of a WW2 bomb in Hamburg-Schnelsen the airport is currently closed. No flights are departing or landing.

“The expected duration is still undetermined. All travellers should stay in contact with their booked airlines.”

The bomb weighs an estimated 450kg and is buried with its tip up – meaning the local fire brigade have no idea what kind of detonation devices it uses.

Hamburg Airport is Germany’s fifth busiest airport, wth 17,231,687 passengers travelling through in 2018 alone.