Munich Airport and Lufthansa have vowed to overhaul emergency procedures after approximately 600 passengers were left stranded on six planes during a snowstorm on 19 February. Both organisations issued apologies, calling the incident 'unacceptable' and committing to new measures to prevent a recurrence.
Passengers endured hours aboard aircraft with limited access to food or blankets and received sparse updates from crews. Lufthansa's Hub Manager for Munich Airport, Heiko Reitz, acknowledged the failings at a joint press conference, stating: 'We, Munich Airport and Lufthansa, made mistakes that night and together we take responsibility.'
Operational shortfalls identified included a lack of terminal space, stretched bus capacity, and staff shortages exacerbated by a strict night curfew. The airport's night flight regulations normally apply between midnight and 5am, but takeoff permission was extended to 1am on the night. However, heavy snowfall led to longer de-icing times and runway closures, causing aircraft to miss the deadline.
Affected flights included five Lufthansa Group journeys to Copenhagen, Singapore, Gdansk, and two to Graz and Venice operated by Air Dolomiti, plus an Air Arabia flight. One Lufthansa flight to Copenhagen remained at a remote stand for up to seven hours before buses arrived to return passengers to the terminal in the early hours of Friday.
The handling drew sharp criticism from pilot and firefighter unions, while local politicians voiced concerns that the event could damage Munich's reputation as a vital transit hub. Lufthansa has begun contacting affected travellers to process compensation claims, and both organisations pledged to improve coordination and readiness for future disruptions.
