Heavy rain threw Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport into chaos on Monday, forcing the cancellation of at least 51 flights and the diversion of 27 others. The disruption stemmed from a combination of heavy downpours and low visibility, leading to a suspension of runway operations for nearly two hours in the early hours of the morning.
Heavy Rains Disrupt Operations In Mumbai Airport
The runway was closed due to bad weather conditions from 2:22 AM to 3:40 AM. This critical shutdown caused airlines to prioritise incoming flights and delaying departures to accommodate the backlog and diverted services.
Mumbai, India’s financial capital, is no stranger to monsoon disruptions. However, the scale of this particular incident is significant. By 11 am on Monday, IndiGo grounded a whopping 42 flights, Air India stopped 6 flights and Alliance Air cancelled 2 flights.
Weather Disruptions
A different weather-related issue—crew limitations—caused Qatar Airways to cancel the flight. The heavy rain delays caused the flight crew to exceed their designated Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), rendering them unfit to operate the flight.
Just a month ago, on June 28, heavy rainfall caused a partial roof collapse at Delhi’s Terminal 1. It tragically resulted in one fatality and several injuries. The incident forced the closure of the entire terminal. The closure of Terminal 1 threw the schedule of roughly 200 daily flights into disarray, forcing them to be rerouted to the remaining terminals at the airport.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has launched a comprehensive investigation into the Delhi incident. It has ordered the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to conduct a nationwide structural inspection of all airports. To assess the damage at Delhi’s Terminal 1 quickly, structural engineers from IIT Delhi are rushing to complete an evaluation. The engineers at IIT Delhi are conducting a rapid assessment of the damage at Terminal 1. Their findings by the end of July will determine the next steps for the terminal.
Monsoon season is causing disruptions, and these measures might not be enough to stop them. If you’re flying to or from Mumbai or other Indian cities in the coming weeks, closely monitor your flight status for delays or cancellations. Stay informed!
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva (Representative Image)
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