Chaos at Munich Airport: Condor flight has to start because of 10 seconds!

Chaos at Munich Airport: Condor flight has to start because of 10 seconds!

München, Deutschland - An unexpected chaos experienced the passengers of the Condor flight DE 1513 from Palma de Mallorca to Munich on June 2, 2025. Instead of starting at 8:30 p.m., the plane took off at 10:52 p.m. The late departure was due to delays in the previous flight, such as [RTL] (https://www.rtl.de/news/condor-flimze-von-mallorca-darf-nicht-s-zehn-sekunde- ID4394683.html). 

The arrival in Munich, which was originally planned for 10:40 p.m., ultimately only took place on June 3 at 8:00 a.m. The Situation became even more uncomfortable for the passengers who had already made their way home. Shortly before the planned landing after midnight, the pilot did not get the landing permit because it was ten seconds late with the approach. This led to he had to get started.

night flight ban in Munich

The basis for this decision lies in the strict ban on night flight, which applies in the core time from 0 a.m. to 5 a.m. Only special exceptions, such as emergency and assistance flights, would be allowed during this time, while the approval for landing may only be issued until 0:30 a.m., which was disregarded in this case. The Merkur reports that the pilot has never experienced anything like this in its entire career.

After the failed landing test, the plane was diverted to Frankfurt-Hahn, where the passengers landed at 1:14 a.m. Then they had to be transported 118 kilometers to the actual destination, the Munich Airport. These detours ensured that the entire trip lasted around twelve hours longer than planned.

apologies and consequences

Condor has already apologized to the travelers concerned for the inconvenience. The failed flight once again shows how important clear regulations in aviation are. Only specific flight movements are permitted in the night border hours to minimize the noise for residents. Exceptions are possible during the night, but approval lies with the Bavarian State Ministry of Housing, Building and Transport.

Nevertheless, the question remains whether the regulations would be sensible when delays, in order to accommodate passengers in such exceptional situations. The discussion about night flight bans and their flexibility will continue in the future.