Mumbai: Heavy rain accompanied by strong gusty winds disrupted flight operations at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Sunday, forcing authorities to suspend runway operations for about an hour. The adverse weather resulted in flight cancellations, diversions and widespread delays, affecting hundreds of passengers.

Runway operations suspended for an hour

According to the airport operator, runway operations were temporarily suspended at around 10.17 am after heavy rain, reduced visibility and wind speeds of up to 42 knots affected flight safety.

The airport said the suspension was implemented as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of passengers, aircraft and ground personnel.

Normal runway operations resumed about an hour later after weather conditions improved.

Flights cancelled and diverted

The disruption led to the cancellation of four IndiGo flights, while 13 arriving flights operated by various airlines were diverted to nearby airports before later returning to Mumbai after conditions improved.

The cancelled IndiGo services were:

  • 6E 395: Delhi to Mumbai
  • 6E 5273: Mumbai to Indore
  • 6E 552: Indore to Mumbai
  • 6E 6613: Mumbai to Delhi

In a post on X, IndiGo said adverse weather over Mumbai and Delhi had affected its flight schedule and advised passengers to check their flight status before travelling.

Delays affect passengers

According to flight tracking data, the weather disruption caused significant delays across the airport.

Around 90 per cent of departing flights were delayed by an average of 65 minutes, while approximately 45 per cent of arriving flights were also delayed.

The delays affected passengers across multiple domestic and international services as airlines worked to restore normal schedules.

Airport resumes normal operations

Air Traffic Control sources said Mumbai airport handles between 980 and 1,000 flights daily, with an average of 48 aircraft movements every hour, including 24 arrivals and 24 departures.

Although the severe weather briefly halted runway operations, airport authorities restored normal services after conditions improved.

Passengers have been advised to remain in contact with their respective airlines for the latest updates on flight schedules, as weather conditions continue to influence operations during the monsoon season.