Am I entitled to compensation for flight disruptions due to force majeure?

Sometimes the weather conditions are so bad that the plane cannot take off or takes longer than expected to reach its destination. For instance, it can become too dangerous to fly during heavy storms, strong wind gusts, or thunderstorms. Additionally, it can be unsafe to fly through regions impacted by natural disasters, like forest fires.

Rights in the event of force majeure due to weather conditions  
If your aircraft is unable to take off or is delayed due to weather conditions, you are not entitled to compensation. Weather conditions are usually considered as something that the airline cannot do anything about.

💡Sometimes, the airline does have to compensate in case of a delay due to weather conditions. For example, if your flight was not affected by the storm at all, but another situation caused the delay.

#flight-disruptions-due-to-bad-weather-and-natural-disasters

Sometimes, the airport where your flight departs or arrives is closed. An airport can close for various reasons. For example, for security reasons requiring the airspace to remain free for military action. Or if the weather conditions there are so bad, that it would be too dangerous for planes to land or take off there. Technical failures at the airport can also cause unsafe situations or delays. In the event of a power outage or a cyberattack, for example, the systems may not function well enough to regulate air traffic or process baggage properly.

No right to compensation from airline in case of problems at the airport
The airline cannot do anything about problems at the airport. Therefore, the airline does not have to pay you any compensation.

#fligh-disruption-due-to-airport-closure

Sometimes, a flight cannot depart because the staff is on strike. The airline's own staff or employees at the airport could decide to stop working. There is a difference between an announced and a so-called wildcat strike.

• Announced strike: no force majeure
  The airline may have been notified of a strike in advance. This is also called an 'announced strike'. In this case, the airline must do everything it can to prevent cancellations and delays. This is not considered force majeure, because the airline can prepare for the strike.

• Wildcat strike: usually force majeure
  A strike can also occur unexpectedly. That means that airline did not know anything about this in advance. This is also called a 'wildcat strike'. If the airline could not do anything to prevent the strike, then it's considered force majeure. Therefore, you are not entitled to compensation.

  
  A wildcat strike could be caused by the airline. For example, because it has just announced a reorganisation, even though it's aware that the employees disagree with it. The airline could then have foreseen a possible strike and taken appropriate measures. In an exceptional situation like this one, you are entitled to compensation.

• Strike by airport employees: usually force majeure
  Sometimes, flight delays and cancellations occur because the airport's employees are on strike. The airline only has influence on its own staff and does not have any influence over the airport's employees. Therefore, you are not entitled to compensation in this case.

#flight-disruptions-caused-by-strikes

The airline could say that a technical problem caused the flight delay or cancellation. For example, issues with the engine may have arisen, making it unsafe to fly (further). A technical issue might also prevent the plane from taking off. Whether you are entitled to compensation depends on the sort of technical issue it concerns.  

• Technical defects are usually not considered as force majeure
  If the flight delay or cancellation is due to a technical defect, it is usually not considered force majeure. This is evident from a ruling by the Court of Justice. In most cases, a technical problem is seen as something that can arise during the airline's normal operations. As a passenger, you are therefore entitled to compensation.

• Flight disruption due to a hidden technical defect is force majeure
  However, if there's a technical issue just before or during the flight that could not have been discovered earlier, it's a hidden defect. In this case, you are not eligible for compensation because force majeure applies.

#technical-issue-with-aircraft

Is a passenger on your flight being difficult or even aggressive? Then this can lead to dangerous situations. In some cases, this requires the pilot to make an emergency landing. Whether you are entitled to compensation depends on the situation.

Your rights in case of force majeure due to inappropriate behaviour of another passenger 
Sometimes the airline could have prevented the involved passenger from causing problems. For example, the passenger may have already been misbehaving before boarding. If they were allowed to board despite clear signs of misconduct, the airline may still be obliged to pay compensation. But if the airline could not have prevented the situation that arose, you are not entitled to compensation.

#aggressive-passenger-on-flight

A flight delay may also occur due to a bird strike. A bird strike is a collision between a bird and an aircraft. The bird may have flown into the engine of the aircraft during take-off, for example. As a result, the pilot usually must return to the airport. It is then no longer safe to continue flying. Unfortunately, the airline cannot prevent bird strikes. Therefore, you are not entitled to a compensation.

#birdstrike-during-flight

A passenger or staff member on board may become seriously ill or pass away. The airline cannot do anything about a medical emergency. Therefore, you are not entitled to compensation.

#medical-emergency-during-flight

A flight delay or cancellation could be caused by a severe security threat, such as a (planned) terrorist attack or bomb threat. If your flight is disrupted because security services need to intervene, you are not entitled to compensation.

#flight-disruption-due-to-terrorism