Flight Diversions – Delhi Rain and Strong Winds Disrupt IGIA Operations
Flight Diversions – Heavy rain and strong winds over Delhi on Sunday disrupted flight operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport, forcing 15 incoming services to divert to Jaipur and Lucknow. The weather-related disruption also delayed several flights scheduled to arrive or depart later in the day.
Airport officials said five of the diverted flights were international services. Operations gradually returned to normal after weather conditions improved, allowing the diverted aircraft to resume their journeys to Delhi.
International Services Sent to Jaipur
Several overseas flights bound for Delhi were redirected to Jaipur during the period of poor visibility and adverse wind conditions. These included Air Astana flight KC907 from Almaty, Thai Airways flight TG323 from Bangkok, Air India flight AI4208 from Dubai, and IndiGo flight 6E 64 from Jeddah.
The diversions were carried out as a precaution to ensure safe landing conditions while weather conditions remained unfavourable around the Delhi airport.
Domestic Flights Also Affected
The disruption was not limited to international operations. Flight-tracking data showed that a number of domestic flights approaching Delhi were also diverted to Jaipur.
Air India flights operating from Kolkata, Varanasi, Hyderabad, Pune and Mumbai were among those rerouted. IndiGo services from Bengaluru and Ahmedabad were also sent to Jaipur after they were unable to land in Delhi during the weather disturbance.
A source at Jaipur International Airport said that 12 flights originally scheduled to land in Delhi arrived in Jaipur between 11 am and 12.30 pm. The aircraft began departing for Delhi once the weather situation improved and airport operations resumed.
Three Flights Diverted to Lucknow
Lucknow also received three flights that had been scheduled to land at Delhi airport. These included an Air India Express flight from Ranchi, an IndiGo service from Mumbai, and an Air India flight from Rajkot.
Passengers on diverted flights faced longer travel times as airlines adjusted schedules and arranged onward departures after receiving clearance from Delhi airport authorities.
Delays Continue After Weather Improves
Although diversion activity reduced after the rain and winds eased, the earlier disruption affected the wider flight schedule. Several arriving and departing services experienced delays as airlines worked to manage aircraft availability, crew rotations and revised landing slots.
Delhi airport, one of the country’s busiest aviation hubs, often faces operational pressure during periods of intense rain, thunderstorms or strong winds. Airlines generally issue updated departure and arrival information through their official channels when weather conditions affect schedules.
Passengers travelling through Delhi were advised to check their flight status with airlines before leaving for the airport, as delays and changes in boarding schedules may continue even after weather conditions improve.