Ice grounds all departures at Berlin Brandenburg Airport

By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN (AA) - Ice halted all departures at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) on Thursday morning, as rapidly freezing rain made it impossible to de-ice aircraft, officials said.

“No takeoffs are currently taking place at BER due to weather conditions,” the airport said in a statement on its website. Several inbound flights were also canceled.

Airport officials advised passengers to expect cancellations and significant delays and urged them to check their flight status with airlines before heading to the airport.

Germany’s national weather service, the DWD, issued warnings of a high risk of slippery conditions in Berlin because of freezing rain and ice. It urged extreme caution and advised people to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities and car travel, citing serious safety risks.

Berlin’s public transportation network also experienced weather-related disruptions. The U2 and U3 subway lines were interrupted on aboveground sections, and several S-Bahn commuter rail lines were disrupted.

Germany’s national railway operator, Deutsche Bahn, reported cancellations and delays, particularly on the InterCity Express (ICE) high-speed route between Berlin and Hannover.