Munich Airport and Lufthansa executives issued apologies after a snowstorm left approximately 600 passengers stranded overnight on six grounded planes. The incident occurred on February 19 when inclement weather forced the airport to close operations before the city's 1 a.m. curfew.

Airport and airline officials admitted to critical failures in their response plan. Thomas Hoff Andersson, Munich airport's managing director of aviation and operations, acknowledged mistakes during a press conference, stating they failed to notify firefighters who would normally evacuate passengers. Heiko Reitz, a Lufthansa board member, added that such incidents cannot be allowed to happen.

Passengers reported being denied food, blankets, and the option to return to the terminal despite the extended delay. While Lufthansa claimed crews kept passengers informed and provided available catering, the situation highlights the importance of understanding passenger rights during extended ground delays. Airlines must de-board passengers after three hours for domestic flights and four hours for international ones, though exceptions exist for safety, security, or air traffic control issues.