Dust Storm Disrupts Delhi Flights: Over 200 Delayed, Passengers Stranded for Hours
A fierce dust storm accompanied by gusty winds wreaked havoc at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi on Friday, causing massive disruption to air travel. Over 205 flights were delayed, with at least 50 diverted, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded and frustrated.
According to airport sources, the average delay in departures was around one hour. The storm, which swept across Delhi and surrounding areas on Friday evening, also caused widespread damage and temporary power outages in several parts of the city.
“After the dust storm, many flights were diverted and cancelled, and this caused inconvenience to passengers waiting for their flights at Delhi airport. The diverted flight took time to reach Delhi, and this led to a rush at the airport,” an official told ANI.
Airlines including Air India and IndiGo issued advisories on social media, warning of possible delays and diversions due to inclement weather. However, many passengers expressed anger and disappointment over what they called poor handling and lack of communication by both airlines and airport staff.
One Air India passenger traveling from Srinagar to Mumbai via Delhi said their flight was diverted to Chandigarh and later returned to Delhi only by 11 pm. “We were then asked to board another flight for Mumbai at midnight, sat in the aircraft for four hours, then deboarded again. It’s 8 am, and we are still waiting,” the passenger told NDTV.
A 75-year-old woman in a wheelchair, who was on the same flight, said they had been stranded for more than 12 hours at the airport. “We could not land in Delhi due to the storm. But we have been waiting since 11 pm,” she said.
Social media was flooded with angry posts from stranded fliers. One user posted a photo of a crowded terminal and wrote: “Most mismanaged, misinformed world-class international airport, New Delhi… Worse than a bus stand.”
Another user slammed IndiGo for rescheduling their Kolkata to Delhi flight multiple times, stating, “Are you taking passengers for granted?” Similar complaints were directed at Air India, with one user writing: “Stranded at Delhi Airport for more than 14 hours… you have zero accountability.”
Air India acknowledged the disruption in a public advisory, stating: “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.”
IndiGo also noted ongoing airside congestion despite improved weather conditions. “We encourage you to check your flight status regularly. Our ground team remains committed to assisting you,” it said.
The Delhi airport issued an advisory urging passengers to stay in touch with their airlines. “Due to the inclement weather conditions in Delhi, some flights are impacted. We sincerely regret any inconvenience caused,” it stated.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had earlier issued an ‘orange’ alert for thunderstorms and lightning. Friday’s storm followed a similar weather pattern the previous day, bringing moderate rain and strong winds.
The storm also damaged infrastructure across the National Capital Region. Tree branches fell on roads and vehicles, disrupting traffic and damaging power lines in areas like Narela, Bawana, Badli, and Mangolpuri.
As weather conditions stabilize, flight operations are gradually returning to normal, but delays are expected to persist for some time. Authorities are monitoring the situation, while the IMD continues to warn of further thunderstorms through the weekend.
