Over 600 passengers spent the night in immobilized aircraft on the tarmac at Munich Airport following a sudden winter storm. A lack of ground staff and night-time noise restrictions prevented the deployment of stairs and buses, leading to a multi-hour paralysis. Airport authorities and Lufthansa have officially apologized for the situation, which experts describe as a complete breakdown of crisis procedures at Germany's second-largest hub.
Night in the Planes
Approximately 600 passengers spent up to 10 hours in immobilized aircraft on the tarmac at Munich Airport.
Logistical Failures
The cause of the paralysis was ground staff shortages and night-time restrictions, not just snowfall.
Official Apologies
Lufthansa and the airport apologized for the chaos and announced compensation payments for travelers.
Passenger Complaints
A lack of blankets, food, and precise information deepened the frustration of trapped passengers.
A sudden winter storm in Bavaria led to unprecedented operational paralysis at Munich Airport. Approximately 600 people, including numerous groups of passengers from Poland, were forced to spend the night in planes parked on taxiways. Although the aircraft landed safely, passengers could not disembark for 8 to 10 hours. Official statements indicate the cause was not solely the extreme weather, but primarily staffing shortages in ground handling companies and strict night-time noise restrictions, which blocked evacuation logistics. Munich Airport, opened in 1992, has for decades faced operational challenges due to its location in an area with high humidity and frequent, heavy snowfall in winter.Many passengers complained about a lack of reliable information and extreme exhaustion. Social media reports emerged about a lack of blankets, hot meals, and contradictory instructions provided by crews. Aviation experts, cited by German media, describe the event as a "complete breakdown" of the crisis management system. Lufthansa admitted to serious communication failures and announced the payment of appropriate compensation to affected customers. 600 osób — trapped overnight in aircraft on the tarmacThe situation has sparked a debate about the resilience of critical infrastructure in Germany. While there were calls for prosecutor involvement, current actions are focused on internal airport audits. Lawyers specializing in passenger rights emphasize that carriers are obligated to provide care even in cases of force majeure if passengers remain on board the aircraft beyond a specified time. Passenger Rights in Crisis Situations: Right to care: Lack of clarity during tarmac delays → Obligation after 2 hours of delay; Possibility to disembark: Decision solely by the captain → Required after 5 hours on the tarmac