Heavy Rains and Low Visibility Cause Major Disruptions at Mumbai Airport

Flight operations at Mumbai airport faced significant disruptions on Monday due to heavy rainfall and low visibility. This led to the suspension of runway activities for over an hour, resulting in the cancellation of around 50 flights, according to sources.

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Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL), the private operator, confirmed that adverse weather conditions caused the temporary halt of runway operations from 2:22 a.m. to 3:40 a.m. on Monday. During this period, approximately 27 flights were diverted to nearby airports such as Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and Indore.

Impact on Airlines

IndiGo was the most affected airline, with 42 flights cancelled, including 20 departures. Air India had to cancel six flights, three of which were arrivals. Additionally, Alliance Air cancelled two flights—one departure and one arrival—on Monday.

MIAL has deployed personnel across terminals to assist passengers and provide necessary support. They also advised passengers to check with their respective airlines for updated schedules before heading to the airport.

Weather Conditions

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that Mumbai city recorded 101.8 mm of rainfall in nine hours on Monday. This was nearly seven times more than the suburbs, which recorded only 14.8 mm of rainfall during the same period.

Sushma Nair, a scientist at IMD Mumbai, noted that the Colaba weather station registered 101.8 mm of rainfall from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., while the Santacruz station recorded significantly less rain at 14.8 mm during the same timeframe.

The island city typically receives less rain compared to its suburbs. However, this time it experienced much heavier showers, leading to severe disruptions in flight services.

The heavy rains and low visibility not only affected flight schedules but also caused inconvenience to passengers who had to deal with cancellations and delays. The airport authorities have been working to manage the situation and ensure passenger safety and comfort.

Despite these challenges, MIAL continues to monitor weather conditions closely and coordinate with airlines to minimise further disruptions. Passengers are encouraged to stay updated on flight schedules through official channels.