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Chaos at Düsseldorf Airport as passengers forced to leave luggage behind

Passengers at Düsseldorf Airport had to fly without their luggage on board on Wednesday due to a major breakdown in the baggage system.

Published: 17 July 2019 11:36 CEST
Chaos at Düsseldorf Airport as passengers forced to leave luggage behind
The luggage left behind was secured in the departure hall of Düsseldorf Airport. Photo: DPA

Around 2,500 suitcases were left stranded in the airport after a technical malfunction hit baggage handling facilities at the airport, local media reported Wednesday. 

It came during a busy time for the western German state: the school summer holidays started last week and many people are jetting off.

Passengers were notified of the problem with the baggage handling systems. Photo: DPA

As our pictures show, suitcases were left standing in the check-in hall on Wednesday morning because staff were not able to load them onto departing planes. Security employees cordoned off the luggage in a hangar in North Rhine-Westphalia's largest airport. 

According to an airport spokesman, five out of seven baggage handling systems were out of order between 3.30am and 8.45am. During that time only a limited number of baggage items could pass through the security check and be loaded onto planes.

Local news magazine tweeted about the chaos saying that not all suitcases could be loaded onto planes but that passengers would receive their luggage.

But there were no delays in flight operations, the spokesman said. However, some aircrafts took off without suitcases on board.

Now the suitcases have to be flown out to be reunited with their owners.

READ ALSO: Customs dog sniffs out €1.2 million in cash at Düsseldorf Airport

Luggage piled up at the airport. Photo: DPA

The spokesman said the baggage would be reloaded onto planes and handed back to owners as soon as possible. 

The problem was down to an error in the control software which caused a technical failure. Airport bosses are analyzing how this happened.

The luggage of arriving passengers was not affected by the chaos because it could be transported manually.

The federal police at the airport were initially not aware of any incidents, such as those involving disgruntled passengers. The airport spokesman said overall it was a “calm situation”.

However, eyewitnesses on the scene reported long queues at the check-in and hectic scenes as airport staff tried to sort the 2,500 suitcases that were left behind.

On Wednesday, flights carrying about 81,000 passengers to destinations including Mallorca, Tenerife and Corfu were planned in the airport schedule. 

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TRAVEL

Explore Austria: Mauer, a charming wine-hiking spot on Vienna’s outskirts

Catch the very tail-end of the wine season and autumn foliage in one of the lesser-explored corners of the Austrian capital: Mauer.

Published: 12 November 2021 17:03 CET
Updated: 24 September 2023 08:20 CEST
Explore Austria: Mauer, a charming wine-hiking spot on Vienna’s outskirts
Beautiful views and cosy taverns await you on the edge of Vienna. Photo: Catherine Edwards

Wine-hiking is an autumn must-do in Austria. There’s the official Wine Hiking Day (Weinwandertag) that usually draws in big crowds, but it’s also possible to follow the routes through beautiful scenery and wine taverns on your own.

Mauer in the southwest of Vienna is one of the routes that is mostly frequented by locals.


The footpath takes you through scenic vineyards. Photo: Catherine Edwards

You can reach this part of the 23rd district using Vienna’s public transport, and you have a few options. From the Hietzing station on the U4 line, you can take the tramline 60 or bus 56A. The former will take you either to Mauer’s central square or you can get off earlier at Franz-Asenbauer-Gasse to start the hike. If it’s too early in the day for wine just yet, you could start your day at the small and charming Designo cafe (Geßlgasse 6).

Otherwise, the residential area itself doesn’t have much to see, but keep an eye out as you wander between the taverns later — there are some beautiful buildings.

To start the hike, head west along Franz-Asenbauer Gasse, which will take you up into the vineyards, growing some red wine and Vienna’s specialty Gemischter Satz or ‘field blend’, which as the name suggests is a mixture of different types of grapes.

Photo: Catherine Edwards

The paved road takes a left turn, but the hiking route follows a smaller path further upwards. Here you’ll have magnificent views over the whole of Vienna.

If you stick to the official hiking route (see a map from Weinwandern here) you can keep the whole route under 5 kilometres. But more adventurous types don’t need to feel limited.

You can also follow the Stadtwanderweg 6 route (see a map here) either in full, which will add on a hefty 13 kilometres, or just in part, and venture further into the Mauerwald. If you do this, one spot to aim for is the Schießstätte, a former hunting lodge offering hearty Austrian meals.

EXPLORE AUSTRIA

In any case, you should definitely take a small detour to see the Wotrubakirche, an example of brutalist architecture from the mid-1970s built on a site that was used as a barracks during the Second World War.

Not far from the church is the Pappelteich, a small pond that is not only an important habitat for local flora and fauna, but a popular picnic spot for hikers. Its only water supply is from the rain, and due to climate change the pond has almost dried out in recent years, prompting the city to take action to boost its water supply by adding a permanent pipe.


The church is made up of over 150 concrete blocks. Photo: Catherine Edwards

What you really come to Mauer for, though, are the Heuriger or Viennese wine taverns. 

The most well-known is Edlmoser (Maurer Lange Gasse 123) which has previously been named as the best in Vienna. Note that it’s not open all year so check the website, but in 2021 it should be open between November 5th and 21st, and is also serving the goose that is a popular feature on Viennese menus this time of year.

Tip for translating Heuriger opening times: look for the word ausg’steckt, which is used by those taverns which aren’t open year round. They will also often show that they’re open by attaching a bunch of green twigs to the sign or front door.


Buschenschank Grausenburger. Photo: Catherine Edwards

Also worth visiting are cosy Buschenschank Grausenburger (Maurer Lange Gasse 101a), Heuriger Wiltschko (Wittgensteinstrasse 143 — located near the start of the hiking route, this is a good place to begin your tour) and Heuriger Fuchs-Steinklammer (Jesuitensteig 28).

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