What now?
The airline says "extraordinary circumstances"
The standard refusal — and how to push back with the case law.
Legal referenceEU 261, Art. 5(3)
The airline must prove the cause was genuinely external and unavoidable. Ask for that proof in writing, and test it against the case law:
- A technical or mechanical fault → Wallentin-Hermann and Van der Lans say it is not extraordinary
- A strike by the airline’s own staff → Krüsemann says it is not extraordinary
- Genuine extreme weather, ATC strike or security → may qualify, but care is still owed
A vague "operational reasons" is not enough to defeat your claim.
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