IndiGo Ahmedabad–Dibrugarh Flight Diverted To Imphal As Visibility Drops To ‘Dangerously Low’ Levels

A routine Sunday morning flight turned dramatic after a sudden dust storm forced an IndiGo aircraft to divert just minutes before landing at Dibrugarh airport. An Ahmedabad–Dibrugarh flight operated by IndiGo was rerouted to Imphal after visibility at Dibrugarh dropped to dangerously low levels due to a severe dust storm. The aircraft was carrying 144 passengers at the time.

IndiGo Flight With 144 Passengers Diverted To Imphal

Flight 6E-6457 was operating from Ahmedabad to Dibrugarh via Guwahati. After departing from Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport at 10:20 am, the aircraft was scheduled to land in Dibrugarh at around 11:15 am. However, as the plane approached its destination, the weather in Upper Assam suddenly changed.

According to ETV Bharat, runway visibility was severely hampered by a strong dust storm that passed through the region. The visibility fell below the minimum safety limits required for landing an aircraft. The pilots had to make a critical decision because of the situation. The visibility was “dangerously low,” so landing was out of the question.

To put the safety of the passengers first, the flight crew chose to divert the plane to the nearest secure airport, Bir Tikendrajit International Airport in Imphal. Officials at Dibrugarh later confirmed that operations were severely hampered due to the dust storm, ETV Bharat reported. Diversion was the only responsible course of action because the runway conditions at the time did not meet safety standards. The passengers experienced a delay, but the diversion ensured that no chances were taken in the challenging weather.

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Once The Weather Cleared, The Flight Resumed

Authorities kept a careful eye on the weather. Air traffic control cleared the flight to continue after the dust storm passed and visibility returned to an acceptable level. According to ETV Bharat, the plane took off from Imphal and made a safe landing at Dibrugarh at 1:20 pm, about two hours after it was supposed to arrive.

Officials said that although the unexpected delay might have disrupted travel plans, such diversions are common aviation practice during extreme weather events. Strict adherence to safety procedures is maintained, particularly when visibility falls below allowed levels.

There were no reported injuries or incidents, and all 144 passengers and crew members arrived in Dibrugarh safely.

Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons/Md Shaifuzzaman Ayon