Heavy snow and icy weather triggered major travel chaos across Europe on Tuesday and Wednesday, leaving six people dead in weather-related incidents. Authorities said five died in France due to black ice and road accidents, including a collision with a heavy goods vehicle and a taxi that “plunged into the Marne river”. One woman was killed in Sarajevo after a snow-laden tree fell on her as the city recorded 16in (40cm) of snowfall. Airports in Paris and Amsterdam cancelled large portions of flights as disruption was expected to continue into Wednesday.
More than 400 flights were cancelled at Schiphol airport, many operated by Dutch airline KLM, which warned it had “nearly run out of de-icing fluid”, citing “extreme” weather and supply delays. Passengers reported long queues and limited information, with Spanish traveller Javier Sepulveda describing the airport as “chaotic, unacceptable, frustrating, annoying” and “totally unacceptable.” He said he queued at the KLM desk from 06:30 local time for over six hours. Schiphol said crews were working “around the clock to keep the runways clear” while aircraft were “carefully de-iced to ensure everyone can travel safely.”