Accidents Highlight Safety Worries at Croatia's New Airport

The latest glitch at Zagreb's new Franjo Tudjman Airport, which opened in March, has highlighted a series of problems that have piled up in the last two months - and which some say point to safety lapses.

The airport's PR service confirmed a report in Avioradar that on Wednesday evening there was "contact between the luggage loader belt and a Croatia Airlines plane and the plane was damaged".

The airport confirmed to BIRN that the passengers had to transfer to another plane as a result. "The event is being investigated," the airport's PR service stated. The passengers had to fly on to Dubrovnik with a delay of an hour and 25 minutes.

French concessioner Zagreb Airport International Company built the architecturally attractive new airport near the old one, which has been transformed into a cargo airport. The new terminal opened its doors in March.

Media reports about two similar events in June have also been confirmed by the airport.

In the first, on June 1, a passenger on a flight for Zurich who arrived late for boarding pressed the button to open the door to the runway, which should only be used for emergencies.

The passenger walked unattended onto the runway, saw the baggage cart returning his suitcase to the terminal and asked the baggage handler to drive him to the plane. The plane crew then allowed him to board along with his suitcase.

In the other incident, an Uber driver drove past the ramp onto the road used by airport vehicles to approach the runway and, after realising he was driving towards the runway, tried to leave the road.

He was apprehended by the security service and police. Police reported that the driver was driving under the influence of alcohol and did not have a valid driving licence.<...