Italy-bound flight returns to Germany due to closed airport

May 27 (UPI) -- A flight that departed from Germany landed at the same airport four hours later because the intended destination hub in Italy was be closed.

Low-cost German carrier Eurowings confirmed Flight EW9844 departed Saturday from Dusseldorf, intending the land at Olbia Airport in Sardinia.

The plane entered Sardinian airspace before the crew was informed by an air traffic controller that the airport was closed to commercial traffic.

The Airbus A320, which was carrying only two passengers, landed back in Dusseldorf four hours and 10 minutes after its departure.

A Eurowings representative said the incident stemmed from a misunderstanding.

"Against the background of the corona crisis, the situation at numerous airports in Europe is very dynamic," the representative told CNN. "The large amount of information provided on operating hours or airport closures are often changed at short notice."

Olbia Airport was ordered reopened by the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transportation on May 17, but the decision was overruled by a regional authority on the same day. The airport is currently scheduled to remain closed until June 2.

(0) Leave a comment
upi.com/7009865

Latest Headlines

Odd News // 6 hours ago
Canadian man receives package ordered 8 years earlier
May 27 (UPI) -- A Toronto man said he was surprised and confused when a package showed up at his home containing a product he had ordered eight years earlier.

Odd News // 8 hours ago
Researchers baffled by 'completely weird' underwater tornado
May 27 (UPI) -- Researchers said a tornadolike formation caught on camera off the coast of Australia was "completely weird."

Odd News // 9 hours ago
Woman wins $127,000 jackpot using money from making face masks
May 27 (UPI) -- An Oregon woman who took up sewing face masks when she was laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic said the money from her efforts scored her a $127,000 lottery jackpot.

Odd News // 10 hours ago
Fisherman discovers 200-year-old shipwreck off Mexican coast
May 27 (UPI) -- A fisherman off the coast of Mexico spotted a shipwreck that archaeologists determined to be more than 200 years old.

Odd News // 11 hours ago
Bear follows 12-year-old boy on hiking path
May 27 (UPI) -- A family out for a hike in northern Italy captured video of the moment a brown bear followed a 12-year-old boy down a mountain path.

Odd News // 13 hours ago
Monkey chases host out of studio during TV interview
May 27 (UPI) -- An Egyptian TV host fled the studio in the middle of an interview when a monkey brought to the set by an actor started attacking her legs.

Odd News // 1 day ago
Police respond to report of big cat on the loose in London
May 26 (UPI) -- Police responded to an affluent London neighborhood on a report of a "big cat" with cheetah-like markings and determined the animal was a domesticated Savannah cat.

Odd News // 1 day ago
Man who forgot about lottery ticket learns of win from email
May 26 (UPI) -- An Australian man said he had forgotten about his lottery ticket until he scrolled through his email and discovered he had won more than $65,000.

Odd News // 1 day ago
Ohio state troopers stop highway traffic for goose family crossing
May 26 (UPI) -- Ohio state troopers responded to a stretch of highway to stop traffic and rescue a family of stranded geese spotted by a state representative.

Odd News // 1 day ago
Idaho woman dresses husband in 32 T-shirts to break Guinness record
May 26 (UPI) -- An Idaho couple broke a Guinness World Record by teaming up to dress the husband in 32 T-shirts in one minute.