Snow Forces Widerøe Flight Diversion, Cancelling 10+ Aberdeen Airport Services

January 2, 2026 at 11:38 AM•3 min read

Widerøe flight WF392 returned to Bergen due to heavy snow and uncleared runway conditions at Aberdeen Airport, causing over 10 flight cancellations and delays.

Key Points

1Widerøe flight WF392 from Bergen was forced to divert back due to poor runway braking conditions at Aberdeen Airport.
2Over 10 commercial flights, including services from KLM and Loganair, were cancelled or delayed by the severe weather.
3The incident highlights the critical safety role of EASA-aligned Runway Condition Codes (RWYCC) during airport winter operations.
4Met Office amber warnings for heavy snow and potential blizzard conditions remain in force across North-East Scotland.

Heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions have severely impacted operations at Aberdeen Airport (ABZ).

At least 10 commercial flights were cancelled or delayed on Friday. This disruption follows a critical decision by a pilot to divert back to Norway.

Widerøe Flight Forced to Return

Widerøe’s flight WF392 from Bergen was forced to abandon its landing attempt. The aircraft circled the airport before returning to Bergen (BGO).

The airline stated the runway at Aberdeen Airport was not well cleared of snow for a safe landing. Furthermore, the airport was unable to prepare a runway with adequate braking conditions. This lack of improvement led to the decision to divert the aircraft.

All passengers are being rebooked on later departures. The airline apologized for the significant travel delays caused.

Widespread Aviation Disruption

Beyond the Widerøe diversion, the extreme weather caused wider service disruption. Other cancelled services included KLM flights to Amsterdam and Loganair services to and from Dublin and Norwich. The airport is working to manage the backlog of delayed flights. This incident underscores the vulnerability of regional hubs to sudden severe weather events.

Operational Safety in Winter Conditions

This event highlights the strict safety protocols governing airport winter operations. European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) regulations require airports to have a robust Snow Plan. The pilot’s decision was based on the reported runway surface conditions.

Pilots use the Runway Condition Code (RWYCC) to assess landing safety. This code determines the braking action available on contaminated surfaces. A poor code mandates operational restrictions or runway closure. Airports must work quickly to clear surfaces to safe operating standards.

Industry bodies like the International Air Transport Association (IATA) emphasize the importance of timely communication. This communication is critical for flight crews making go/no-go decisions. Safety remains the absolute priority over schedule adherence in such conditions.

Weather Warnings Remain in Force

The disruption coincides with severe weather warnings across Scotland. The Met Office issued both yellow and amber warnings for snow. Forecasters predicted accumulations of 10-20cm at low levels. Temporary blizzard conditions were also possible due to strong winds. Authorities advised people to reconsider all non-essential journeys. Such severe weather often causes delays and cancellations to rail and air travel, as reported in commercial aviation news.

The amber weather warnings are expected to remain in place until noon on Saturday.
Road travel was also impacted, with several snow gates closed in northern Scotland.