A Eurowings Airbus A320 flight from Düsseldorf to Tromsø, Norway, faced a harrowing experience on Saturday, March 15, 2025, as it encountered a fierce snowstorm that made landing impossible. The aircraft struggled against strong gusts of wind exceeding 100 km/h and poor visibility, which thwarted multiple landing attempts.
The decision to divert was made after the crew determined the conditions in Tromsø were too dangerous. They redirected the flight to Rovaniemi, Finland, where the plane made a one-hour stopover before attempting to land back in Tromsø. Unfortunately, that second attempt also had to be aborted due to the continuing adverse weather conditions.
According to the Norwegian Meteorological Institute, snowfall was significant, compounding the challenges faced by the crew. Following the second failed approach, the airline opted to return the aircraft to Düsseldorf. The passengers, totaling 120, landed safely back at Düsseldorf Airport.
Passengers faced no immediate danger during the entire ordeal, as reported by t-online.de, which referenced statements from Eurowings. The airline took swift action to mitigate the situation by providing accommodations for affected travelers. They were either housed in local hotels or given the option to spend the night in their own homes if they preferred.
To further assist its passengers, Eurowings arranged a replacement flight to Tromsø for the following morning, March 16, 2025. This was a much-needed measure given that the weather chaos impacted many other flights as well. Rovaniemi was not the only destination affected; numerous airlines faced the brunt of cancellations and diversions due to the tempestuous weather, leading to widespread disruption.
Reports from Norwegian media indicated that the storm not only curtailed air travel but also resulted in significant flight cancellations at Tromsø Airport, affecting approximately 1,000 passengers. Many were left scrambling as they were informed their flights had been either canceled or diverted, substantially inconveniencing their travel plans.
Helsing Schrøen, the airport chief, spoke to the Norwegian newspaper Nordlys, providing insights into the scale of the disruption. He revealed that the canceled flights would be rescheduled over the following days to accommodate stranded travelers. This was a significant logistical challenge, given the number of people impacted by the weather.
The situation in Tromsø was exacerbated by a widespread power outage affecting over 18,000 households across the Nordland and Troms regions. The outage impacted resources and services, including those at Tromsø Airport itself, which experienced its own temporary power issues during the storm.
By Monday, March 17, many residents and officials were still grappling with the aftermath of the storm, which highlighted the need for robust infrastructure to handle such extreme weather events. Flights were resuming slowly, but the cloud of disruption lingered in the air as people attempted to rearrange their travel schedules.
In summary, the incident involving the Eurowings flight reflects a broader issue of how airlines and infrastructure cope with severe weather conditions. As airlines continue to adjust their routes and schedules to adapt to changing climatic patterns, passengers are urged to stay vigilant and informed regarding the potential for disruptions during winter months. This harrowing experience for the travelers on the Eurowings flight serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of weather and its capacity to disrupt even the most carefully laid travel plans.
