Hundreds Stranded on Tarmac Overnight as Munich Airport Grinds to a Halt

A severe winter storm at Munich Airport on the night of February 19 led to a grueling ordeal for approximately 500 passengers, who were forced to spend the night aboard their aircraft after the airport suspended operations. The incident began when a Lufthansa flight bound for Singapore, along with four other planes, was held at the gate for de-icing amid heavy snowfall.

Passengers described a scene of growing frustration. "We waited and waited, watching the snowy chaos on the runway where several planes were lined up," said one anonymous traveler on the Singapore flight. "Then, around midnight, they told us we wouldn't be allowed to take off." Contrary to expectations, passengers were not taken back to the terminal. With the airport officially closing at 1 a.m., the first shuttle buses did not arrive until 4:30 a.m., leaving people confined on the planes for hours. Witnesses noted many women with young children and infants were among those affected.

In a statement, Lufthansa cited safety concerns for not allowing passengers to disembark until ground equipment and buses were available. "Due to heavy snowfall on February 19, runways were temporarily closed, and there were significant delays in de-icing procedures," the airline said. The carrier rebooked stranded passengers onto the next available flights the following morning.

The event echoes recent travel disruptions elsewhere, including a separate incident where over 150 Russian travelers were reportedly stranded for 16 hours at an airport in Armenia.