ICE train door flies open at high speed: nearly 300 first responders launch a search operation lasting several hours

A German ICE high-speed train was forced to make an emergency stop on Tuesday evening after a door unexpectedly opened while the train was in motion. Because it was not immediately clear whether anyone had fallen from the train, a large-scale search operation was launched. Nearly 300 emergency responders were deployed. Ultimately, it turned out that no one was missing or injured.

On Tuesday evening, the ICE was traveling from Munich to Dortmund with 238 passengers on board. Around 7:32 p.m., a door in the rear car suddenly opened while the train was traveling at high speed.

The train operator reacted immediately and brought the train to a stop. The ICE came to a stop near Wiesenfeld, in the Main-Spessart region, just before the Schönrain Tunnel.

Major Search Operation in the Dark

Because it could not initially be ruled out that a passenger had fallen from the train while it was moving, a large-scale search operation was launched immediately.

The conditions made the operation particularly difficult. It was dark, and the area around the railroad tracks was difficult to access in some places. Emergency responders therefore deployed various resources, including drones, search dogs, and a police helicopter equipped with a thermal imaging camera.

Deutsche Bahn also sent a specially equipped rescue train to the area. On board were doctors and other medical personnel, among others.

In total, there were 292 emergency responders sprang into action. Among them were 115 firefighters, about 100 other first responders, and 37 police officers.

During the search operation, the passengers were required to remain on the ICE. Emergency responders boarded the train to assist the passengers and gather information. No one was injured during the emergency stop.

No missing passengers

After hours of searching, no one was found. The train was then allowed to continue slowly on to the station in Lohr am Main.

There, the passengers from the rear car were checked and questioned individually. They might have been able to provide information about what had happened to the door.

Deutsche Bahn then deployed buses to transport the passengers onward to destinations including Aschaffenburg and Frankfurt.

The route was checked again the following day. No people, luggage, or other objects were found along the tracks.

The federal police eventually confirmed that there were no missing persons and no injuries .

Emergency unlock appears to have been used

The initial investigation has now shown that the door did not open due to a technical malfunction.

Researchers discovered that the door’s emergency release mechanism had been activated. In addition, the seal had been removed and the protective Plexiglas surrounding the mechanism had been smashed.

According to Deutsche Bahn, ICE doors are normally secured while the train is in motion and do not open on their own.

Furthermore, at the time of the incident, there was no emergency situation that would have justified the use of the emergency release mechanism.

It is still unknown who activated the emergency release and why. The police are investigating whether the door was opened intentionally or whether it was a thoughtless act.

For now, one thing is certain: despite the great scare and the hours-long search, it appears that no one fell off the train.

Sources: BR24 and the Munich Federal Police