German government plane blocks runway at Berlin airport

AP  |  Berlin 

A plane with no passengers on board was blocking the runway after a rough landing at one of Berlin's airports on Tuesday, forcing authorities to divert other aircraft during the busy

The German air force, which operates the government fleet, said both wings of the jet touched the runway as it landed at Schoenefeld after turning back because of a malfunction.

It said the crew was undergoing medical checks.

The plane had been at Schoenefeld for maintenance and was headed back to its base in

The city's operator tweeted that flights headed for Schoenefeld were being diverted because of an "inoperative aircraft on the runway."

Check-in was suspended.

Schoenefeld is one of two Cold War-era airports that serve the German capital ahead of the long-delayed opening of a new airport, currently scheduled for October next year.

The German government's fleet of 14 aircraft has become increasingly notorious for frequent malfunctions, with a string of embarrassing high-profile mishaps in recent months.

In November, arrived late at the Group of 20 summit in after a problem with her A340 forced the plane to turn back. Merkel then took a commercial flight.

Other recent mishaps have left the stranded in overnight and the for several hours in

The government is purchasing three new long-haul planes.

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First Published: Tue, April 16 2019. 15:35 IST