Over 50 flights cancelled, 27 diverted after heavy rains disrupt operations at Mumbai airport

Heavy rains wreaked havoc at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Monday, leading to the cancellation of at least 51 flights and the diversion of 27 others. The disruption was caused by a combination of heavy rain and low visibility, which led to a suspension of operations on the runway for nearly two hours in the early hours of the morning.

Heavy rains disrupt operations at Mumbai airport

The runway was closed due to poor weather conditions from 2:22 a.m. to 3:40 a.m. The critical shutdown forced airlines to prioritize inbound flights and delay departures to accommodate delays and diverted services.

Mumbai, India’s financial capital, is no stranger to monsoon disruptions. However, the scale of this particular incident is significant. As of 11 am on Monday, IndiGo has grounded 42 flights, Air India has suspended 6 flights, and Alliance Air has cancelled 2 flights.

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Weather disturbances

Another weather-related issue, crew limitations, prompted Qatar Airways to cancel the flight. Delays caused by heavy rain caused the crew to exceed their assigned Flight Duty Time Limits (FDTL), making them unfit to operate the flight.

Just a month ago, on June 28, heavy rains caused the partial collapse of the roof of Delhi’s Terminal 1. The incident left one person dead and several injured. The incident led to the closure of the entire terminal. The closure of Terminal 1 disrupted the schedule of around 200 daily flights, forcing them to be diverted to other terminals of the airport.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has launched a comprehensive investigation into the Delhi incident. It has directed the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to conduct a nationwide structural inspection of all airports. To quickly assess the damage at Delhi Terminal 1, structural engineers at IIT Delhi are rushing to complete an assessment. Engineers at IIT Delhi are conducting a rapid damage assessment at Terminal 1. Their findings by the end of July will determine the next steps for the terminal.

Read also : Mumbai: Overnight rains cause flooding, disruption to local trains; IMD predicts heavy rains for next 3 days

The monsoon season is causing disruptions, and these measures may not be enough to stop them. If you are flying to or from Mumbai or other Indian cities in the coming weeks, keep a close eye on your flight status for possible delays or cancellations. Stay informed!

Cover image courtesy of Canva (representative image)

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