Munich Airport chaos leaves 600 passengers stranded overnight in freezing planes
Hundreds of passengers were left stranded overnight on six aircraft at Munich Airport after heavy snowfall and staff shortages caused chaos. The incident, which affected around 600 travellers, has led to apologies from both the airport and Lufthansa, as well as a formal review by prosecutors.
Officials described the situation as a result of poor decisions and difficult weather conditions, with temperatures hovering just above freezing and light rain adding to the disruption.
The problems began late on February 28, 2026, when snowfall and a shortage of bus drivers left passengers trapped on planes. Despite nighttime flight restrictions, Munich Airport had secured a special exemption allowing take-offs until 1:00 AM. However, no emergency alert was triggered, as the situation was not deemed immediately dangerous.
Thomas Hoff Andersson, the airport's managing director for aviation and operations, later called the event 'a chain of unfortunate circumstances.' He apologised to those affected, alongside Lufthansa executive Heiko Reitz, who admitted mistakes and promised improvements.
Investigators have highlighted three main causes: the weather, insufficient ground staff, and a failure to escalate the situation. Siegfried Maier, head of the German Firefighters' Union, criticised the lack of emergency response, including the airport's fire brigade. The Landshut Public Prosecutor's Office has since launched a preliminary review into the incident.
The incident has exposed gaps in emergency planning and staffing at Munich Airport. Both the airport and Lufthansa have acknowledged errors, while authorities continue to examine the response. Passengers, meanwhile, remain frustrated after spending hours confined to aircraft in difficult conditions.
