Snow Strands 500 Passengers in Airplanes Overnight
Heavy snowfall at Munich Airport significantly disrupted operations, stranding around 500 passengers overnight in their airplanes. The weather chaos unfolded on a Friday night, leading to flight cancellations and a lack of transportation options for travelers.
Key Events at Munich Airport
On Friday night, passengers waiting on Lufthansa flights faced unexpected challenges. Their flights, initially scheduled for Thursday evening, were canceled due to the severe winter weather. Passengers were already aboard when the flights were grounded. With heavy snow falling, aircraft operations became severely hindered.
Flight Cancellations and Delays
Overall, 100 flights were canceled on Thursday due to worsening conditions. By Friday night, the situation had escalated, leaving travelers unable to return to the terminal. The details are as follows:
- 500 passengers stranded overnight
- Flight cancellations affecting various destinations, including Singapore, Copenhagen, Graz, and Venice
- A night flight ban typically in place was circumvented for a few flights that were granted late departures
Lack of Transportation
The stranded passengers faced an additional issue: a shortage of buses and limited parking facilities. Munich Airport confirmed that all parking spots at the terminal were occupied, leaving no options for transporting passengers inside. Passengers and crew were left to endure the night in the aircraft.
Response and Regrets
Passengers began to receive bus transportation early the following morning. However, the root cause of the lack of available buses remained unclear. The spokesperson for Lufthansa expressed regret over the situation, acknowledging the inconvenience caused to travelers. Meanwhile, Munich Airport indicated that it was responsible for the bus arrangements.
This incident illustrates the impact of adverse weather conditions on travel logistics, highlighting the need for improved contingency planning during severe winter storms.
