> At a Glance
> – Over 700 flights canceled at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport amid fierce winter weather
> – Stranded traveler Mohammed Diagne filmed staff having a snowball fight on Jan. 5
> – More than 1,000 passengers slept on airport beds with blankets and food provided
> – Why it matters: Europe’s travel chaos shows how extreme weather can ground entire hubs-and how workers and travelers cope
A burst of playfulness broke out on the tarmac as blizzard conditions shut down one of Europe’s busiest airports. Passenger Mohammed Diagne, stuck inside the terminal, pointed his phone at the runway and caught the unlikely scene: ground staff in neon orange and yellow vests pelting each other with snow.
The Moment on Camera
Diagne had hoped to chronicle the snowfall for Instagram. Instead he recorded two employees sprinting across the white-blanketed ramp, one chasing the other with a snowball. The clip ends with both poised to launch another round.
> Mohammed Diagne recalled:
> > “I was just trying to take a video for my Instagram Story to look at the snow, but I managed to capture this wholesome video.”
His flight, like hundreds of others, was ultimately scrapped.
Record Cancellations
Schiphol Airport’s Jan. 7 bulletin spelled out the damage:
- 700+ flights canceled, mostly intra-Europe routes
- Additional delays expected Jan. 8
- High winds and thick snow limiting safe operations
Ground crews weren’t the only ones adapting. Inside the terminals, staff laid out hundreds of camp beds, handed out pillows, blankets, and hot meals, and worked shifts around the clock to clear runways and de-ice aircraft.
Ripple Effects
The storm’s reach stretched beyond Dutch airspace:
- French roads snarled; one Parisian skied past the snow-laden Eiffel Tower
- Rail lines and highways across the region reported severe icing
- Travelers worldwide faced rebooking headaches as Schiphol serves as a major transfer hub
| Date | Key Event |
|---|---|
| Jan. 5 | Diagne films staff snowball fight |
| Jan. 6 | Airport beds deployed for stranded flyers |
| Jan. 7 | Official notice: 700+ flights canceled |
| Jan. 8 | Further delays warned |
Key Takeaways
- 700+ flights axed at Schiphol due to relentless winter weather
- Over 1,000 passengers spent nights in the airport on provided beds
- Viral snowball-fight clip offers a light moment amid widespread disruption
- Europe’s transport network braces for more cancellations as storms linger
Travelers planning connections through Amsterdam should monitor updates, pack patience, and perhaps keep a camera ready-the next viral moment may be only a snowflake away.
