German government plane blocking runway at one of Berlin's airports

A German government 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 Easter travel season. The German air force, which operates the government fleet, said both wings of the Bombardier Global 5000 jet touched the runway as it landed at Schoenefeld airport 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 Cologne.

The city's airport 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, Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived late at the Group of 20 summits in Argentina after a problem with her Airbus A340 forced the plane to turn back. Merkel then took a commercial flight. Other recent mishaps have left the foreign minister stranded in Mali overnight and the president for several hours in Ethiopia.

The government is purchasing three new long-haul planes.

(With inputs from agencies.)