German man fined €4,500 after hugging Scholz on airport runway

A 50-year-old man has been handed a hefty fine in a German court, two years after he bypassed security at Frankfurt Airport and hugged Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the runway, reported dpa.

The Frankfurt District Court on Tuesday found the man guilty of traffic offences and trespassing, fining him €4,500 and banning him from driving for two and a half years.

The incident in May 2023 saw the man join the chancellor's convoy without authorization in his private vehicle while under the influence of drugs, illegally gaining access to the airport.

After getting out of the car, he approached Scholz, shook his hand and embraced him before being detained by police at the airport.

In court, the accused showed remorse for his actions and vowed to make amends. "I apologize for everything," he said.

He said he had been partying for two days, consuming cocaine and not sleeping when he joined the convoy.

The man had previously been caught driving while under the influence of drugs.

Prosecutor Christian Lang said the judgement was focused on the traffic offences and largely unrelated to the man's subsequent embrace of Scholz.

The curious incident led to a debate in Germany over the chancellor's security.