Berlin, Dec 30 (IANS): The Hannover Airport was shut down for several hours on Saturday after a man high on drugs drove a car through a gate and onto the tarmac of the airport, the police said.

A BMW car with Polish license plates entered through a passageway onto the tarmac of the airport around 15:30 local time, prompting a major police response and deployment of explosive teams, reports Xinhua news agency.

According to a statement by the police in Hannover, the 21-year-old man from Poland drove out onto the runway and followed an airplane after it had landed. The car was stopped by the police and the driver was detained.

The security lapse caused all departures and landings to be canceled as a precaution. Flights resumed at about 8 p.m.

A rapid drug test showed initial indications of anesthetic effects on the man, who was taken a blood sample. The car was searched and no dangerous items were found.

There are currently no indications of a terrorist background, said the statement.