Winter Storm Brings Ground Delays After Two Aircraft Get Stuck in Snow at Kittilä Airport

Two arriving aircraft left taxiways and became stuck in snowbanks at Kittilä Airport in northern Finland on Saturday afternoon as winter storm conditions intensified. A Swiss International Air Lines Airbus A220 operating a seasonal flight from Geneva slid off taxiway T shortly after landing on runway 34. Within minutes, a smaller business jet arriving from Prague encountered the same surface conditions elsewhere on the airfield and also veered off the paved area.

Both aircraft had completed their landings before losing control during slow taxiing, when strong crosswinds and drifting snow reduced braking effectiveness. Emergency services responded immediately after receiving a major alert. Everyone on board both aircraft was unharmed, and the planes themselves did not show any clear signs of damage after coming to a stop. The aircraft came to rest in packed snow, and ground crews then started clearing the affected areas so normal movements could resume.

While the A220 was being prepared for towing, some taxi routes were no longer usable, so airport staff redirected movements around the blocked areas to keep flights and vehicles moving where possible. One aircraft heading to Kittilä decided to return to Helsinki, while another stayed parked on the apron until it was safe to continue. Ground crews worked on snow clearing and surface checks, making sure the area around the stuck aircraft was safe before reopening any routes.

Flight schedules were impacted as delays accumulated and airlines reassessed departure and arrival plans. The towing process and temporary closure of taxi routes created knock-on effects that limited ground handling capacity. Finavia stated that the incidents occurred during storm-force northerly winds of more than 40 knots, with wet snow and ice fully covering movement areas. Because of the icy surface and blowing snow, aircraft were already moving slowly, as steering and braking were noticeably less responsive.

These events show how winter weather in Lapland can disrupt plans even when aircraft land as expected. Strong winds and snow can lead to delays, diversions, and changes to flight schedules until conditions improve and safety checks are completed. Anyone traveling in the region during the winter holiday season should be ready for possible changes, as weather continues to play a major role in how airports and airlines operate.