Flights suspended at German airport after car drives through gate

Flights were suspended at Hannover airport in central Germany on Saturday after a man drove a car through a gate and onto the apron where planes park and are loaded, authorities said.

Hannover police said on Twitter that officers stopped the car and overwhelmed the man. Federal police were investigating whether the driver of the Polish-registered vehicle was mentally disturbed, under the influence of drugs, trying to carry out an attack or drove through the perimeter for some other reason, German news agency dpa reported. 

The security incident took place just over a week after police said they were tightening airport security due to terrorism fears, BBC News reported.

Bomb disposal experts were examining the car, which police described as a routine measure. Take-offs and landings of planes were suspended.

The airport’s terminals remained open — except for part of one terminal that had a glass facade facing the car.

It wasn’t immediately clear how long flight operations would be suspended.

The Hannover airport isn’t one of Germany’s major hubs, although millions fly through the airport every year.