In a startling breach of airport security, two desperate holidaymakers were arrested after sprinting across an active runway at a major German airport in a last-ditch attempt to catch their departing flight.
The Desperate Runway Dash
The incident unfolded on Friday evening at Cologne Bonn airport in Germany. The two men, aged 28 and 47, had missed their Wizz Air flight bound for Bucharest, Romania. In an astonishing move, they bypassed all security protocols by gaining unauthorised access to the apron through an emergency exit after having already passed through security checks.
Footage from the scene captured the moment the men ran unchecked across the tarmac towards an Airbus A321 jet that had already left its gate and had its engines running. Incredibly, they reached the front of the aircraft and began gesticulating at the cockpit, seemingly trying to persuade the pilot to stop and let them board.
Airport Staff Intervention and Arrests
The dangerous situation was only resolved when a member of airport staff walked out onto the runway to intervene. The flight's crew had been instructing the men to go back, but they persisted until being detained by airport personnel.
Following their detention on the tarmac, the two men were handed over to German police. Oliver Hunewinckell, a spokesperson for the Federal Police, confirmed that criminal proceedings for trespassing have been initiated against the men. An investigation into a potential violation of the Air Security Act is also ongoing.
Flight Delay and Underlying Causes
The dramatic incident caused a brief disruption to the flight schedule. The Wizz Air plane was temporarily delayed but managed to take off only 17 minutes behind schedule. The flight subsequently made up for the lost time during its journey and landed early in Bucharest.
Reports suggest that the men's extreme actions may have been prompted by significant delays earlier in the day. Construction work at the airport had caused longer-than-usual queues at security gates, potentially contributing to the passengers missing their flight and resorting to such drastic measures.
