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German authorities temporarily closed Nuremberg Airport and scrambled fighter jets on October 13 after a Corendon Airlines flight triggered an emergency hijacking code during a radio communications problem, according to The Associated Press.
The Boeing 737-800 was travelling from Corfu, Greece, when air traffic controllers were unable to establish contact with the cockpit after a brief radio fault. The aircraft sent a distress code over Croatia, prompting officials to take precautionary action as the flight continued towards Germany.
Precautionary response at the airport
Authorities cordoned off areas of the airport and fighter jets escorted the aircraft. The airport was temporarily closed, six flights were delayed and two inbound flights were diverted while security teams assessed the situation.
Corendon Airlines later confirmed that there had been no actual hijacking or emergency aboard the aircraft. The 178 passengers and crew were not in danger, the report said.
Why a communications fault can trigger a major response
Emergency codes are designed to alert aviation authorities when a crew faces a serious problem or cannot communicate normally. Because controllers cannot assume that a loss of contact is harmless, an unexplained signal can trigger a strict response while information is checked.
Such measures can disrupt airport operations even when the incident is eventually traced to a technical fault. Airports and airlines must balance avoiding unnecessary panic with responding quickly when the cause of a distress signal is unclear.
Travel impact and next steps
The reported disruption was temporary, and the incident did not result in reported injuries. Authorities and the airline can review communication records and technical systems to understand how the fault occurred and whether further maintenance or procedural action is required.
Travellers affected by a sudden closure should rely on airline and airport updates for rebooking or departure information rather than assuming that a security alert means a threat has been confirmed.
Source: Associated Press — Germany briefly shuts Nuremberg airport and scrambles jets to escort flight with radio problem (October 13, 2026).
Tags: Nuremberg Airport, Corendon Airlines, aviation news, Germany travel, flight disruption, airport security
