1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
Live TV
Latest audioLatest videos
In focus
Russia's war in UkraineIsrael-Hamas warIndia elections

German air traffic control suffers fault

December 21, 2015

A defect in the radio and telephone system at the German Air Traffic Control Service (DFS) has caused problems to flights over Germany. Several airlines have been affected by delays.

https://p.dw.com/p/1HRI1
German planes
Image: Reuters/W. Rattay

According to the DFS, which operates from Karlsruhe in southern Germany, the entire lower airspace between Osnabrück and Stuttgart was affected on Monday, after lines collapsed at 11:15 a.m. local time (1015 UTC).

Spokeswoman for DFS, Kristina Kelek, said aircraft were only accessible on an emergency frequency, limiting the number of aircraft able to take off and land.

"Therefore we couldn't operate to full capacity," she said. Six flights were diverted as a result of the fault and several others were delayed by up to two hours.

Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Cologne/Bonn, Düsseldorf and Münster-Osnabrück airports were all affected. Airport operator Fraport said that 43 airlines suffered from the defect at Frankfurt International airport alone.

Aircraft on a flight altitude above 7,500 meters were not affected, however. The cause of the failure was not initially clear.

ksb/jm (Reuters, dpa)

Skip next section Explore more

Explore more

Kenia Boeing 777 Air France Flug Notlandung

Air France bomb scare 'a false alarm': airline

Air France bomb scare 'a false alarm': airline

The CEO of Air France says a suspicious device that forced one of the airline's planes to make an emergency landing in Kenya was harmless. The Kenyan Interior Ministry says several passengers are being questioned. (20.12.2015)
December 20, 2015
Lufthansa workers protest outside the carrier's Frankfurt headquarters on November 13, 2015.

Lufthansa, unions take step to end hostility

Lufthansa, unions take step to end hostility

After months of strikes and out-in-the-open showdowns, Lufthansa and unions for its pilots, cabin crew and ground staff pledged to put an end to the drama. Even so, there's likely to be more turbulence ahead. (02.12.2015)
December 2, 2015
Bulgarien Burgas Flughafen

Bomb threat forces emergency landing of Polish flight

Bomb threat forces emergency landing of Polish flight

A flight from Poland to Egypt was forced to land in the Black Sea city of Burgas after a passenger said explosives were on board. The passenger later confessed he had lied under the influence of alcohol. (19.11.2015)
November 19, 2015