Finland’s Kittilä Airport Hit By Severe Gusts As SWISS Airbus A220-300 Slides Into Snowbank: All You Need To Know

Published on December 29, 2025

Kittilä Airport located in Lapland, Finland, saw an impressive aviation incident on Saturday, which a SWISS Airbus A220-300, flight LX8904, was blown off course and into a snowbank shortly after landing. The aircraft was coming from Geneva; meanwhile, the extreme winter conditions hampered the air transportation at the airport significantly.

Flight LX8904’s Difficult Landing Amid Severe Weather

The Airbus A220-300, registered HB-JCM, was carrying approximately 150 passengers when it arrived in the Lapland city of Kittilä, renowned for its winter tourism appeal. However, soon after the aircraft touched down, the plane’s stationary position on the taxiway was disrupted by a sudden gust of wind. This gust caused the aircraft to slide off the taxiway and into a mound of snow near the runway’s edge.

Although the aircraft did not incur any damage, the snowbank caused significant delays, trapping the plane for hours. According to official sources from SWISS, the aircraft remained stuck as local authorities and ground teams struggled to recover it. The conditions were exacerbated by heavy snowfall and near-freezing temperatures, making recovery efforts difficult and time-consuming.

Passengers Safe Despite Lengthy Delay

Despite the dramatic scene, all passengers and crew aboard the aircraft were unharmed, and there was no immediate risk to their safety. A SWISS spokesperson confirmed that once the aircraft was safely towed to a stand, the passengers were eventually allowed to disembark. However, this process was significantly delayed, and the passengers remained inside the plane for more than three hours after landing. Authorities worked tirelessly to clear the snow and provide access to mobile stairs, but strong winds persisted, further complicating the recovery process.

Challenging Conditions at Kittilä Airport

Lapland’s Kittilä Airport, located in one of the most severe winter climates in Europe, is no stranger to harsh weather. The airport, which is a popular gateway for winter tourists heading to Finland’s Lapland region, was facing winds of up to 41 knots and snow accumulation that made taxiing and braking difficult. For safety reasons, speeds were reduced to under three knots on the taxiways, and crews worked with extreme caution to ensure all aircraft safely navigated the runway and taxi routes.

In addition to the SWISS aircraft, a small private jet that had arrived around the same time was also caught by the gusts and blown off course. This jet required similar recovery efforts and was towed by emergency services to a safe position.

Further Impact on Kittilä Airport Operations

The snowstorm and strong winds caused widespread disruptions across Kittilä Airport. Several other inbound flights, including one from airBaltic, were either delayed or grounded while emergency crews focused on recovering the two affected aircraft. Another flight, an inbound Finnair service, was forced to return to Helsinki after failing to land safely in the tumultuous conditions.

The disruption led to further complications for Kittilä, a hub for winter tourism, as flight schedules were thrown into chaos. This included delays to the outbound SWISS flight back to Geneva, which was ultimately cancelled due to the aircraft’s prolonged stay at the airport.

Recovery and Post-Incident Efforts

Once the snow had been cleared and the aircraft was safely moved to a parking stand, Kittilä’s ground team faced another challenge: the strong winds continued to hamper the disembarkation process. After multiple hours of waiting, passengers were finally able to leave the aircraft at 7:20 pm local time, over three hours after their plane had touched down.

The airport’s operations were temporarily suspended due to the ongoing recovery efforts, but once the aircraft was cleared and passengers safely disembarked, normal operations resumed. There were no reports of injuries or other safety issues at the airport, although the event certainly caused significant inconvenience to travellers.

Aviation Lessons From Lapland’s Severe Weather

The incident at Kittilä Airport serves as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by extreme winter weather in northern Europe. With increasing popularity of winter tourism to destinations like Lapland, aviation operations must be prepared for the occasional disruption caused by nature’s unpredictability. Snowstorms and gusting winds can cause delays, disruptions, and even accidents, which require quick action and expert handling.

Winter air travel in such regions requires airports to implement strict weather protocols, including reduced speeds on runways, the use of snow-clearing equipment, and strong coordination with airlines. Furthermore, passenger safety and comfort should always be the top priority, as demonstrated by SWISS Airlines’ handling of the situation.

Lapland: A Popular Destination Despite Challenges

Despite the challenges posed by the harsh weather, Lapland remains one of the most sought-after winter destinations for travellers worldwide. Known for its pristine snow-covered landscapes, winter sports, and iconic Northern Lights, Kittilä Airport serves as the gateway to the magical world of Lapland. Although snowstorms and gusty winds are an occasional feature of this arctic region, they do little to dampen the appeal of a destination that continues to captivate millions of tourists annually.

The SWISS A220-300 incident is an example of such a situation where deceiving the weather has proved to be a difficult challenge for airlines, however the professionalism of the airline and the airport staff has made it possible to effectively manage the incident, thus keeping the passengers safe and their travel as smooth as possible.