Airport staff went home amid heavy snow; 500 passengers stranded inside grounded planes whole night in Munich
Times of India
by TOI WORLD DESKFebruary 23, 2026
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Heavy snowfall caused chaos at Munich Airport, leaving over 500 passengers stranded overnight on grounded planes as all staff had gone home. The airport was closed due to severe weather conditions, with night flight restrictions in place from 12 am to 5 am. Passengers on several flights, including Lufthansa and Air Dolomiti routes to Copenhagen, Austria, and Italy, were left stranded for hours without proper accommodations or updates. Many were stuck on planes with limited food and drink supplies, expressing frustration over the lack of communication and assistance.
The situation began when a Lufthansa flight from Munich to Copenhagen was repeatedly delayed before being canceled just before midnight. Passengers were assured every 30 minutes that buses were being arranged but were later informed at 2 am that the airport had closed and staff could no longer reach anyone inside. With no flights taking off or landing, passengers were not allowed to disembark and were forced to remain on their planes. The stranded individuals recounted feeling abandoned, as there were no buses available to take them back to the terminal.
The incident highlights the challenges of severe weather conditions disrupting air travel infrastructure. Lufthansa acknowledged the delays and cancellations caused by heavy snowfall and de-icing issues, stating that passengers had since been rebooked on the next available flights. However, the situation raises concerns about preparedness for extreme weather events and the need for better communication during such crises.
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Originally published on Times of India on 2/23/2026