Around 500 passengers were forced to spend the night aboard five grounded aircraft at Munich Airport on the night of February 19, 2026, after heavy snowfall caused widespread cancellations and the airport's strict midnight curfew prevented any further operations.
What Happened
Heavy snow hit Munich throughout the day, causing over 100 flight cancellations and significant de-icing delays. By late evening, five aircraft — three Lufthansa services and two Air Dolomiti flights — were still waiting to depart from remote stands. The airport had granted a special curfew extension to 01:00, but deteriorating conditions made departure impossible.
The most reported case was Lufthansa flight LH2446 to Copenhagen, operated by an Airbus A320neo carrying 123 passengers. Originally scheduled for a 21:30 departure, the flight was cancelled shortly before midnight. Passengers had already been bussed to a remote stand and were seated on the aircraft.
At approximately 02:00, cabin crew informed passengers that the airport had closed, all bus drivers had gone home, and passengers were not permitted to leave the aircraft on foot due to strict airside access regulations. With the aircraft configured for a 90-minute short-haul service, supplies were minimal — no blankets, limited water, and virtually no food.
The Other Affected Flights
Beyond LH2446, four other services were stranded: Lufthansa flights to Gdańsk and Singapore, and Air Dolomiti flights to Graz and Venice. The Singapore service, operated by an A350-900, at least offered more cabin space for passengers enduring the night. In total, approximately 500 passengers were affected across all five aircraft.
Munich's Midnight Curfew
Munich Airport enforces a strict operating curfew between midnight and 05:00, designated as the "core night" period. During this window, severe restrictions apply to all airport operations — flights, ground handling, and transport services. While the curfew exists to protect local residents from noise pollution, the incident has highlighted how quickly it can escalate a disruption into a passenger welfare crisis when combined with adverse weather and insufficient contingency planning.
What This Means for Pilots
For pilots — particularly those preparing for interviews at Lufthansa Group carriers — this incident is a relevant case study. Airport curfews directly impact flight planning, fuel decisions, and crew duty limitations. Understanding how curfews work at major European hubs (Munich, Frankfurt, Zurich, Düsseldorf) is a common interview topic, especially in the context of delay management and passenger handling.
The event also underscores the importance of CRM in crisis situations. The cabin crew on LH2446 had to manage passenger expectations for over seven hours with minimal resources — a scenario that could easily appear in a situational interview question.
Aftermath
Passengers were finally released in the early morning hours once regular bus services resumed. Many were rebooked onto the first available flights, with the Copenhagen departure at 06:40 itself departing nearly an hour late. Lufthansa attributed the situation to weather-related problems combined with a shortage of apron buses, while Munich Airport stated that all available parking positions near the terminal were occupied.
Under EU Regulation 261/2004, affected passengers are likely entitled to compensation for the cancellation, plus care and assistance for the overnight delay. However, the "extraordinary circumstances" defence related to weather may complicate claims. Several passengers have already indicated they intend to pursue formal complaints. The incident adds to growing pressure on EASA's regulatory oversight of airport ground operations.
