Flight chaos at Delhi Airport: Dust storm disrupts over 250 flights, passengers stranded for hours
PTC Web Desk: A massive dust storm accompanied by gusty winds threw flight operations into chaos at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on Friday evening, stranding hundreds of passengers and leading to widespread frustration. The sudden weather disturbance delayed at least 205 flights and forced over 50 others to be diverted from their original destinations, according to official sources.
On average, flights experienced a delay of around one hour. The situation led to overcrowding and confusion at the airport, with many passengers taking to social media to express their anger and disappointment.
“After the dust storm, several flights were either diverted or cancelled, resulting in significant delays. This caused immense inconvenience to passengers waiting at the Delhi airport. The diverted flights took hours to return, adding to the congestion,” an airport official told ANI.
One of the worst-hit groups included passengers on an Air India flight from Srinagar, which was en route to Delhi and then to Mumbai. They were supposed to land in Delhi around 6 pm, but their flight was diverted to Chandigarh due to the storm. It returned to Delhi by 11 pm. A 75-year-old woman in a wheelchair, also on the same flight, said she had been stranded for more than 12 hours.
@airindia @MoCA_GoI @JM_Scindia Most mismanaged, misinformed world class international airport, New Delhi.#INDIRAGandhi.. worse than Bus Stand . pic.twitter.com/uDQilWIfxq — Ärvind Lal (@lalarvi) April 12, 2025
Frustrated fliers shared their ordeal online, calling the airport management “mismanaged” and comparing it to a chaotic bus stand. “IndiGo flight from Kolkata to Delhi was rescheduled six times. @IndiGo6E, are you taking passengers for granted?” a user posted on X. Another passenger wrote, “We’ve been made to sit inside a plane for two hours with no refreshments. As per DGCA rules, this isn’t acceptable.”
#TravelAdvisory
Poor weather, caused by heavy thunderstorms and gusty winds, has affected flight operations across parts of Northern India. Some of our flights to and from Delhi are being delayed or diverted, which is likely to impact our overall flight schedule. We are closely… — Air India (@airindia) April 11, 2025
#6ETravelAdvisory: For the latest updates on your flight status, please visit: https://t.co/ll3K8PwtRV. If your flight is cancelled, you can explore alternate flight options or claim a refund here: https://t.co/51Q3oUe0lP pic.twitter.com/Y33ary3qxw — IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) April 11, 2025
Both IndiGo and SpiceJet confirmed disruptions to their flight schedules. IndiGo issued a statement on X saying, “While weather conditions in Delhi have improved, airside congestion is still affecting operations. Please check your flight status regularly. Our ground staff is working hard to assist you.”
Passenger advisory issued at 19:15 hours.#DelhiAirport #BadWeather pic.twitter.com/RzOovOtgkY — Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) April 11, 2025
The Delhi airport authority also issued a public advisory: “Due to inclement weather, several flights at Delhi Airport are impacted. Passengers are advised to contact their respective airlines for real-time updates. We sincerely regret any inconvenience caused.”
#WATCH | Delhi: Branches of trees fell after the National Capital experienced dust storm in several areas.
(Visuals from Mandi House) pic.twitter.com/WDIFs9tv8r — ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2025
Widespread Damage in Delhi-NCR
The storm not only disrupted air traffic but also caused significant damage across the capital. Tree branches were reported to have fallen on roads and vehicles, blocking key routes and disrupting power supply in several areas. Localities such as Narela, Bawana, Badli, and Mangolpuri faced electricity outages after trees and debris brought down power lines.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an ‘orange’ alert for Delhi, warning of thunderstorms, strong winds, and lightning throughout the day. The alert came a day after another round of dust storms and moderate rain had already impacted parts of the national capital.
- With inputs from agencies
