Snowstorm Disrupts Travel Across Europe, Six Dead and Hundreds of Flights Cancelled

Severe winter weather has caused widespread disruption across Europe, leaving at least six people dead and cancelling hundreds of flights as snow and ice paralyzed transport networks. Authorities reported five weather-related deaths in France, where icy roads led to multiple fatal accidents. Three people were killed in separate incidents in the Landes region in south-western France after vehicles lost control on black ice. Two additional deaths occurred in the Paris region, including one collision involving a heavy goods vehicle and another incident where a taxi skidded off the road and plunged into the Marne River.

In the Balkans, a woman died in Sarajevo after a tree collapsed under the weight of heavy, wet snow. Around 40cm (16 inches) of snowfall was recorded in the city. Air travel was severely affected, particularly in Amsterdam, where more than 400 flights were cancelled at Schiphol Airport. Thousands of passengers were left stranded as long queues formed at airline help desks, with many missing connecting flights.

Dutch airline KLM confirmed that many of the cancelled services were operated by the carrier, citing extreme weather conditions and shortages of aircraft de-icing fluid. Airport authorities said snow-clearing and de-icing operations were ongoing around the clock to ensure safety. In France, authorities warned that further snowfall and freezing conditions were expected. Thirty-eight districts were placed on high weather alert for snow and black ice, leading to widespread train cancellations and reduced services.

At Charles de Gaulle Airport, around 40% of flights were cancelled for several hours to allow runway clearance, while Orly Airport cancelled roughly a quarter of its scheduled departures during the same period. Rail travel was also disrupted across parts of Europe. In the Netherlands, train services were briefly suspended due to an IT outage, and international services, including high-speed routes between Amsterdam and Paris, faced delays and cancellations.

Weather officials warned that disruption could continue into the coming days as fresh snow and ice threaten large parts of the continent, raising further concerns for travelers and transport operators.