Delhi Airport Flights Diverted, Delayed Due to Dense Fog

New Delhi, January 14: Flight operations at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in Delhi were severely disrupted on Sunday morning due to dense fog conditions, resulting in the diversion of 10 flights, including two international flights, to Jaipur. Nearly 100 flights, both domestic and international, were delayed, and some were even canceled due to the adverse weather conditions.

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Low Visibility Hampers Operations

The visibility at the airport dropped to almost zero during the period from 4 am to 10 am, leading to the suspension of flight departures and the arrival of only 15 flights during that time. The airport, which typically handles around 60 departures and arrivals per hour in normal weather conditions, was severely affected by the dense fog.

Diversions Due to Lack of CAT III Training

Sources revealed that the diversion of 10 flights was attributed to the fact that the pilots operating those flights were not trained for CAT III landings, which are required for landing in low visibility conditions. This highlights the need for adequate training and preparedness among pilots to ensure safe operations during challenging weather conditions.

Airlines Respond to Disruptions

Major airlines operating at the Delhi airport acknowledged the impact of the adverse weather conditions on their flight schedules. IndiGo, the country's largest airline, reported that the low visibility and dense fog across North India had a cascading effect on its operations, leading to delays and cancellations. Air India's flight AI 185 to Vancouver, scheduled for early morning departure, was rescheduled after passengers had to wait inside the aircraft for several hours due to the dense fog. The flight was eventually rescheduled for departure at around 11.30 pm, with passengers provided accommodation during the delay.

Passenger Inconvenience and Communication

The dense fog caused significant inconvenience to passengers, with many experiencing long delays and cancellations. Airlines took to social media platforms to inform passengers about the flight disruptions and advised them to contact the respective airlines for updated flight information. IndiGo, Vistara, and Akasa Air all posted updates on their social media handles, informing passengers about the impact of the fog on their flight schedules.

Previous Disruptions and Regulatory Action

The recent flight disruptions due to fog come after similar incidents in December 2022, when dense fog led to the diversion of nearly 60 flights from the Delhi airport. In response to these incidents, the aviation regulator, DGCA, issued show cause notices to Air India and SpiceJet for not deploying pilots trained to operate in low visibility conditions.

The dense fog conditions in Delhi and other parts of North India have caused significant disruptions to flight operations, affecting thousands of passengers. Airlines are working to minimize the inconvenience caused to passengers and are taking steps to ensure the safety of operations during challenging weather conditions. However, the need for adequate training and preparedness among pilots to handle low visibility landings remains a critical factor in preventing future disruptions and ensuring the smooth functioning of air travel.