Condor flight diverted to Cologne after missing Frankfurt landing deadline

A Condor Airbus A320, flying flight DE1809 from Olbia, Sardinia, to Frankfurt, was forced to divert after failing to land before the midnight curfew at Frankfurt Airport.

The flight experienced an initial delay of over two hours due to a technical error, departing Olbia at 10:39 PM instead of the scheduled 8:15 PM. Because Frankfurt Airport enforces a strict night flight ban from 11:00 PM to 5:00 AM, delayed aircraft are only permitted to land until midnight.

Flight tracking data shows the aircraft was extremely close to the runway, descending to approximately 260 to 300 meters above the ground at 11:58 PM and 11:59 PM, respectively. However, unable to touch down before the midnight deadline, the crew had to climb again and divert the approximately 180 passengers to Cologne instead.