Drone scare briefly halts flights at Hamburg Airport; object may have been balloon

Flight operations at Hamburg Airport were briefly suspended on Saturday evening due to the sighting of an unidentified flying object, which police are investigating as a potential drone.

The airport halted all takeoffs and landings for approximately 15 minutes around 7:50 p.m. after the police received a report of the object. Police deployed to the scene and conducted a search, but they did not locate any drone or other aircraft.

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For about 15 minutes, no takeoffs or landings were possible.

Following the search, flight operations were allowed to resume. Initial investigations, including the analysis of a photograph taken by a witness, suggest the object might have been a hot air balloon. Authorities are continuing to examine the evidence.

This incident follows a recent drone event at Leipzig/Halle Airport, where a drone armed with explosives was discovered near Ukrainian transport aircraft. The German federal prosecutor's office is investigating that separate case.

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After evaluating the picture, according to police information, much indicated that it could have been a hot air balloon.