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Hong Kong travellers await news on flight delays at Frankfurt airport in the wake of the Munich shooting. Photo: Christy Leung

Four Hongkongers who were at Munich mall seek help as travel chaos strikes

Security Bureau raises amber travel alert for Germany while Frankfurt airspace closure spells delays for thousands

Thousands of travellers were thrown into chaos at Germany’s largest airport in Frankfurt after airspace was briefly closed after the Munich killings.

More than 30 flights about to take-off were forced to offload passengers on Friday. Over 50 flights were cancelled in total and almost 100 delayed.

However authorities would not confirm the closure was a result of the shootings.

Meanwhile, the Security ­Bureau in Hong Kong has placed Germany on an “amber” travel alert, the lowest warning but ­signifying a potential risk.

The Immigration Department also revealed that it had received two requests for help involving four Hongkongers who were at the Munich mall at the time of the shootings.

The four, who were unhurt, were now staying in areas that were safe, the department said.

A Sunday Morning Post reporter was on a Lufthansa flight for Hong Kong that was set to depart Frankfurt at 10.10pm on Friday.

Amid severe thunderstorms, it waited on the tarmac for almost two hours before the captain ­announced its cancellation.

A flight attendant on board said: “It’s because of the Munich attack. We cannot fly. Airspace was supposed to shut down at 11pm. It extended an hour longer. But we just cannot make it.”

Angry passengers packed the terminal, which had a heavy ­police presence, looking for ­answers.

Mrs Mok, 58, who was also on the Lufthansa flight, described the situation as “unbelievable” and was trying to find an internet connection so she could tell her ­family she was safe.

“My family must be very ­worried as I am in a country where two terror attacks have occurred in a week,” she said. “I am angry that the airline just abandoned us like this without proper explanation or arrangements.”

Macy Li, 23, who was returning from holiday, said: “I do not feel safe in this country now. I hope the flight will resume very soon so that I can fly home.”

Hong Kong Travel Industry Council executive director Joseph Tung Yiu-chung said yesterday a study tour of 29 secondary ­students and two teachers organised by local travel agency EGL Tours was also in Munich when the shootings took place.

He said everyone was safe and the council had advised them to stay in their hotels.

Tung said the tour group would ­continue with its schedule as normal and leave for Frankfurt ­tomorrow.

EGL Tours executive director Steve Heun said the mall where the shootings took place was some distance from attractions listed on the itinerary.

All the students had been in touch with their families and told them they were safe.

The group was continuing to go sightseeing before returning to Hong Kong a week today.

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