Redion's 2026 Snow Plane

On Friday 20 February 2026, Redion's Snow Plane repatriated 18 people from Grenoble.

• During the first week of the winter break (13 to 19 February 2026), 162 "ski" medical files were opened, a 26% drop compared to the equivalent holiday period in 2025. This drop can be explained by the conditions on the slopes and unfavourable weather since the start of the holidays in a large number of ski resorts, leading to less time spent on the slopes.
• 14% of "ski" medical cases resulted in a hospital admission (11% in 2025).
• The ski destinations that recorded the highest number of medical cases were France (42%), Austria (31%), Italy (17%) and Switzerland (10%).
• The number of technical interventions on the way to ski resorts also fell (-4% vs 2025).

Skiing conditions in the Alps

Snowfall was particularly heavy, both just before the start of the holidays and intermittently throughout French-speaking Belgium's 2026 winter break week (13 to 19 February 2026). In several high-altitude resorts, the combination of very heavy snowfall and strong winds led to the closure of many slopes or limited their opening to just a few hours a day. Skiers therefore had to adjust their schedules and focus on the parts of the resort that remained open to the public during the most favourable times. This behaviour led to a lower number of medical cases than last year, which had milder weather conditions.
Throughout the holiday period, the risk of avalanches remained particularly high, especially at high altitude. Authorities therefore recommended not venturing off marked slopes, advice that, unfortunately, was not always followed.

Ski accident summary

162 "ski medical" files and 23 hospitalisations!

From Friday 13 February to Thursday 19 February, Redion opened a total of 162 "ski" medical files in the Alps, a 26% drop compared to the same French- and Dutch-speaking holiday period in 2025.

This drop can be explained by the (temporary) closure of several slopes due to particularly unfavourable weather conditions across much of the Alps — particularly in France and Switzerland — during the holiday period. On some days, several slopes remained closed, forcing skiers to fall back on areas lower down in the resorts. Bad weather (strong winds, heavy snowfall, reduced visibility) at times prevented holidaymakers from practising their favourite sport for long periods.

14% of injured people were hospitalised (vs. 11% in 2025), indicating that medical cases were slightly more severe in 2026 than in 2025.

Ski accidents occurred mainly in France (42%), Austria (31%), Italy (17%) and Switzerland (10%).

] Redion's 2026 Snow Plane

As it has done (almost) every year since the 1980s, Redion offered injured people who did not need urgent repatriation, or who wished to stay with their family on site, the chance to be brought home at the end of the holidays aboard its "Snow Plane".

In 2026, a total of 18 unlucky holidaymakers, including 10 injured, boarded Redion's Snow Plane bound for Brussels from Grenoble airport. Repatriation from French and Swiss ski resorts was carried out in partnership with Brussels Airlines.

Technical interventions to and from the Alps

On the way to ski resorts, Redion recorded a 4% drop in technical interventions on vehicles travelling to or from ski resorts.