Seventeen passenger planes, along with one military aircraft, were diverted to three alternate airports in Iceland as severe weather conditions at Keflavík International Airport caused significant disruptions. The poor visibility and heavy snowfall began affecting operations around 2 PM, forcing aircraft to circle the South Iceland region while awaiting permission to land. The situation stemmed from airport ground crews struggling to clear the runways amid the sudden snowstorm.

Icelandair and other airlines had to cancel several flights as the snowstorm intensified and delayed landing approvals for flights waiting in the sky. The impacted planes were redirected to Reykjavik, Egilsstaðir, and Akureyri after spending considerable time in holding patterns. Despite the messy situation, Gudjon, a representative for airport operations, noted that landing at Keflavik was still possible, albeit with significant delays due to ongoing runway clearing efforts.

This incident highlights the unpredictable weather challenges faced in Iceland during the winter months, which can lead to cascading effects for air travel. As the situation improves, normal flight operations are expected to resume, but the day's disruptions serve as a reminder of the delicate nature of air travel logistics in regions prone to extreme weather conditions.