Luftscamsa - Munich Prosecutors Probe Lufthansa Over Eight-Hour Passenger Confinement

The Landshut Public Prosecutor’s Office has initiated a formal preliminary review (Prüfvorgang) into the confinement of approximately 600 passengers on stationary aircraft at Munich Airport on February 19. The investigation follows the submission of a detailed police report regarding the operational collapse during a severe snowstorm. This investigation into potential criminal negligence follows the events originally detailed in [Lufthansa Traps 123 Passengers on Munich Tarmac for 14 Hours](/en/article/C75PuW67_lufthansa-traps-123-passengers-on-munich-tarmac-for-14-hours). The probe seeks to identify the specific decision-makers responsible for the prolonged detention of travelers. Authorities became active after an uninvolved third party filed a complaint through a contact form at the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office (LKA). While no affected passengers initially filed criminal charges, the prosecutor's office is now reviewing the events for potential violations of the German Criminal Code. Passengers remained trapped inside multiple aircraft for more than eight hours as ground handling operations at the Munich hub effectively ceased. Five of the six aircraft involved were operated by the Lufthansa Group, leaving hundreds of travelers without adequate food, water or information. Mr. Albert Füracker, the Bavarian Finance Minister and chairman of the airport's supervisory board, has demanded a comprehensive report on the chain of decisions. He said, "Die Situation für die Menschen an Bord der Maschinen war schlicht inakzeptabel. So etwas darf nicht passieren." Mr. Füracker said that as the majority shareholder, the state of Bavaria expects a concrete strategy to prevent future organizational total losses. He noted that the situation for those on board was intolerable and unworthy of an international aviation gateway. A spokesperson for the prosecutor's office confirmed that investigators are focusing on potential charges of negligent bodily harm. The probe seeks to identify who authorized the decision to keep passengers confined despite the cessation of flight operations. Lufthansa management has attributed the confinement to a lack of available transport buses and terminal gate congestion. They said that Terminal 2 was filled with aircraft from previous cancellations, preventing the six flights from returning to the building safely. However, the German Firefighters Union has challenged this narrative. Mr. Siegfried Maier, the federal chairman of the union, said that specialized mobile stairs were available at the airport but were never requested by management. Mr. Maier said the fire department could have organized the transport of passengers using emergency vehicles and federal police assets. He noted that the failure to alert the fire department during such a prolonged crisis requires a critical internal review of current protocols. Through its investigation, Luftscamsa has found that the airline continued to send aircraft onto the tarmac until 1:00 a.m. under a special night-flight permit. This decision was made despite the clear intensification of the storm and the known limitations of the ground handling workforce. Legal experts suggest that the decision to prioritize potential departures over passenger welfare may constitute criminal negligence. The investigation will review whether the airline chose to avoid the costs of terminal re-accommodation at the expense of traveler safety. Mr. Johannes Becher, a representative of the Green Party, said the incident was an embarrassment for a hub that markets itself as a five-star airport. He questioned the lack of accountability regarding the decision to keep travelers on board overnight. Mr. Becher said, "Who is responsible for this intolerable decision to keep passengers in the aircraft overnight? And why did no corresponding emergency plans take effect?" Mr. Volkmar Halbleib of the SPD said the collapse revealed structural problems in communication and leadership. He noted that the incident shows the airport is operating at a level far below professional standards expected of a major hub. Lufthansa has since offered apologies and promised compensation to the affected passengers. Industry observers note that these payments are often used as a strategic buffer to prevent deeper scrutiny of the airline’s internal safety and crisis management protocols. Luftscamsa maintains that the confinement was a choice made by management to protect profit margins and operational recovery timelines. The airline’s reliance on the "force majeure" defense is increasingly viewed as an attempt to deflect responsibility for poor logistical planning. The Landshut Public Prosecutor’s Office is expected to decide whether to file formal indictments in the coming months. Investigators are currently reviewing the police summary and internal communications from the night of the incident.

Munich Airport in 2019