A United Airlines flight from Frankfurt to San Francisco was forced to return to the German airport after a broken toilet caused waste to leak into the passenger cabin. The flight crew attempted to address the issue, but the plane ultimately circled over the North Sea before returning to Frankfurt. Passengers were provided with hotel accommodations and rebooked on alternative flights. This incident adds to a series of recent troubling events for United Airlines, including diversions and safety concerns.
Heavy snow and freezing rain in Germany led to the cancellation of about 700 flights at Frankfurt Airport, with no flights taking off midday as a blast of Arctic air affected the continent. The weather-related disruptions also impacted Oslo Airport in Norway and led to school closures and delays in Britain. Germany's weather service issued black ice and heavy snow warnings, while rail services and school operations were also affected.
Heavy rain in Germany has caused flooding, leading to street deluges and fallen trees. Frankfurt Airport, the country's busiest, had to cancel dozens of flights and reroute others. The storm also affected other areas, with Gelsenkirchen experiencing severe flooding. Climate change is believed to be increasing the frequency and severity of such floods.
Heavy rain in Germany caused flooding, leading to dozens of flight cancelations at Frankfurt Airport, the country's busiest and a major European hub. Large quantities of water accumulated on the tarmac, suspending ground handling for over two hours. Downpours in southwestern and central Germany also resulted in flooded basements and streets, with people being rescued from their cars in Gelsenkirchen.
Lufthansa's operations at Frankfurt airport were disrupted due to technical problems caused by external IT service providers. Check-in systems on the airline's website and at the counter, as well as boarding, were affected, resulting in some flight delays and cancellations. The airline asked travelers to check the status of their flights and is working to resolve the issues.
Deutsche Bahn has announced that no long-distance trains will operate on Monday due to nationwide transport strikes. The strikes come as German employees in many sectors seek significant wage hikes to keep up with persistently high inflation. Frankfurt Airport has also canceled all regular air traffic on Monday due to the strike.
