Berlin Schoenefeld airport reopens after plane blocks runway

Stricken aircraft on runway at Schoenefeld caused numerous planes to divert

Berlin Schonefeld airport is currently shut (Getty Images)

Berlin’s Schoenefeld airport has re-opened after being closed for several hours, causing incoming planes to divert.

A stricken military aircraft blocked the runway at the German capital’s second airport after a technical issue caused it to return shortly after take-off. Reports say that both wings touched the runway during landing.

The German air force plane is part of the government fleet: a Bombardier Global 5000 executive jet.

Shortly after 12 noon, local time, Eurocontrol said: "Berlin Schoenefeld now accepting arrivals again but expect significant flight delay."

The airport said: “Delays may still occur. Please inquire with your airline about your flight status. Reason is an inoperative aircraft on the runway.“

Schoenefeld is an important hub for the two biggest budget airlines in Europe, Ryanair and easyJet, as well as Wizz Air and Norwegian.

The first two Ryanair flights from Stansted to Schoenefeld were diverted to the city’s other airport, Tegel.

An easyJet flight from Gatwick due to reach Schoenefeld at 11.50am local time is now expected to touch down at 4.17pm. The morning flight from Luton diverted to Tegel.

Another easyJet departure, to Malaga, is currently running over three hours late.

Berlin Schoenefeld was the airport that served the German Democratic Republic during the Cold War. It is near Berlin Brandenburg airport, which was due to open in 2011 but has faced a litany of problems and will not be operational until 2020 at the earliest.

In August 2018, security officials mistook an Ann Summers vibrator for a hand grenade and ordered an evacuation of part of the terminal.