New Delhi: A severe dust storm on Friday evening caused major disruptions at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, leading to widespread delays, diversions, and cancellations of flights.
Airport sources revealed that between Friday evening and Saturday morning, more than 50 domestic flights were delayed, around 25 were diverted, and at least seven flights were cancelled due to the adverse weather conditions. The disruption left hundreds of passengers stranded, creating chaos inside the terminals.
Senior officials from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and airport authorities monitored the situation and attempted to address passenger concerns amid mounting frustration.
“Following the dust storm, several flights had to be diverted or cancelled, which caused a backlog and led to overcrowding at the airport,” a senior official explained. “Even though the overall passenger load was lighter than usual, the congestion created significant pressure at boarding gates.”
Airlines attributed the delays to air traffic control congestion, which became overwhelming as diverted flights began arriving back in Delhi. Many passengers expressed anger over the lack of communication and assistance from airline staff, particularly at Terminal 3.
One of the worst-hit flights was Air India AI 2512, scheduled to depart at 7:30 PM on April 11. According to passengers, the flight experienced continuous delays overnight, with little to no updates provided. Dr H.Y. Desai, a passenger on the flight, took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), writing:
“AI 2512 kept getting delayed without explanation. Passengers, including children, pregnant women, and patients, were left without basic amenities like food and water all night. The ground staff were unresponsive, and CISF officials turned a blind eye. As of 6:53 AM on April 12, the flight still hadn’t taken off.”
Another passenger, Vipul Singh, shared a video of the overcrowded boarding area, describing the situation as a “stampede-like” scenario caused by “ultra-mismanagement” by airport authorities.
Air India later confirmed that the airline alone had to divert 22 flights and cancel five due to the dust storm. Authorities have not yet commented on possible compensation or action against the airlines involved.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is expected to review the matter, especially in light of passenger complaints about negligence and poor handling of the situation.
