Hundreds of Lufthansa Passengers Stranded Overnight on Planes
Heavy snowfall caused runway closures and delays at Munich Airport, forcing 500 passengers to remain on planes overnight with limited access to food, water, and blankets, Lufthansa said.
- On Thursday, Feb. 19, around 500 passengers were forced to spend the night on grounded planes at Munich Airport, with flight LH2446 to Copenhagen stuck for eight hours at remote stands lacking buses or stairs.
- Operationally, airport rules and timing meant temporary runway closures and massive de-icing delays disrupted flights while Munich's night flight ban and apron instructions limited passenger movement.
- Affected travellers said they lacked basic provisions, with flight crew at a loss, and Søren Thieme said passengers were told bus drivers had gone home, worsening delays.
- In the early hours of the morning, passengers were finally able to leave the aircraft after buses and stairs arrived, and rebooked passengers were placed on the next available flights despite some delays; Lufthansa and Munich Airport said they 'deeply regret' the inconvenience.
- Beyond the single flight, other Lufthansa services and two Air Dolomiti flights to Austria and Italy were affected, with passengers and affected families complaining staff and drivers had left or could not be reached.
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50 Articles
Because of heavy snowfall, hundreds of passengers from six aircraft had to spend one night on the runway in Munich. The authorities initiated an inspection.
No start because of snow chaos - but instead of in the hotel hundreds of passengers had to endure overnight at Munich Airport in their airplanes. What airport and airline now agree to the affected people.
n-tv.de
HandelsblattBecause of snowfall, the plane can't take off. That's annoying enough. But then the passengers have to endure in the plane for hours. As a lawyer looks at this situation.
The airport apologized for the inconvenience, but did not explain why buses carrying passengers were not available.
The passengers were unable to leave their plane because airport staff had already gone home.
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