Chaos at Cologne/Bonn Airport: Luggage sorting was canceled for hours!
There were technical problems with the baggage system at Cologne/Bonn Airport, which led to massive delays and flight cancellations.

Chaos at Cologne/Bonn Airport: Luggage sorting was canceled for hours!
There was a significant incident at Cologne/Bonn Airport on Saturday night: the baggage sorting system in Terminal 2 suddenly failed around midnight. This outage led to hours of delays that left many travelers in an uncomfortable position. Affected passengers faced significant delays and in some cases even missed their planes. Airlines like Eurowings were required to organize alternative travel connections to enable passengers to continue their journey. The question arises: What happens next for the passengers after such an unfortunate situation? Aero.de reports that this not only led to expressions of discontent among travelers, but also left hundreds of passengers stranded at the airport.
The technical problems with the baggage handling and sorting system left their mark. A total of 25 flights were affected, with some planes even having to take off without luggage or empty so as not to completely disrupt flight operations. The first departures could no longer be loaded with luggage from around 4:30 a.m., which led to real chaos. Many passengers had to show patience as they waited for the situation to be defused. WDR emphasizes that technical operations could not be expected to be restored until around 7:30 a.m.
Waiting times and rising emotions
The mood among the travelers was tense. While some showed understanding for the situation, others expressed criticism of the flow of information. “I waited a long time to hear back,” complained one traveler. Police officers were deployed on site to calm the situation as the patience of many passengers was being tested. Hundreds of travelers waited until midday for information about their further journey, while passengers were provided with water in a heated atmosphere.
The change in baggage handling to Terminal 1 also caused congestion in this area. Passengers had to expect longer waiting times at the check-in counters, which further exacerbated the already tense situation. In the end, it was a challenge for everyone involved to clarify the often unclear circumstances as quickly as possible and to give travelers security again.
Quick overview of the situation
| aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Failure of the baggage sorting system | Around midnight in Terminal 2 |
| Flights affected | 25 flights, some empty flights |
| Repair duration | Technical operations restored at 7:30 a.m |
| Passengers affected | Around 500 from Eurowings, hundreds held at the airport |
| Information flow | Criticism and understanding on both sides |
This incident raises questions not only about the efficiency of operations, but also about the rights of passengers. Loud Passenger rights Travelers are entitled to information and support from the airlines in the event of such unforeseen events. It is hoped that proactive measures can minimize such disruptions in the future so that travel remains a pleasant experience for everyone.