Mumbai Airport Chaos: Over 50 Flights Cancelled, Operations Resume Amidst Heavy Rains

Heavy rains in Mumbai disrupted road, rail, and air traffic. After a day’s break on Monday, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) resumed runway operations on Tuesday. The heavy showers caused several flights to be diverted, and over 50 flights were canceled on Monday.

According to the latest update from Mumbai airport authorities, heavy rains and low visibility caused the runway operations to be suspended from 2:22 am to 3:40 am on Monday. This suspension led to at least 27 flights being diverted.

Meanwhile, CSMIA informed that 51 flights to and from Mumbai were cancelled by 11 am on Monday. IndiGo cancelled 42 flights, including 22 arrivals and 20 departures. Air India cancelled 6 flights—3 arrivals and 3 departures. Additionally, 2 Air India Express flights and 1 Qatar Airways departure were cancelled on Sunday night due to an issue with Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL).

Flights destined for Mumbai were redirected to Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and Indore. Airport authorities prioritized incoming flights, leading to adjustments that delayed departures to accommodate the diverted flights.

Mumbai Airport Issues Special Request

CSMIA also advised passengers to check their flight status beforehand. They posted on X (previously Twitter), "Due to the bad weather and expected heavy rains, Mumbai Airport recommends passengers to verify their flight status with their airlines and arrive at the airport earlier than usual."

In light of the inclement weather and forecast of heavy to very heavy rains, #MumbaiAirport advises all the passengers to check their flight status with their respective airlines and leave for the airport a little earlier. #PassengerAdvisory #GatewayToGoodness #Travel #Safety pic.twitter.com/pIRK52MRFr

— CSMIA (@CSMIA_Official) July 8, 2024

Airlines like IndiGo and SpiceJet issued travel advisories as flights destined for Mumbai were diverted.

Passengers used social media to share the problems they encountered due to disruptions at Mumbai airport.

Stand-up comedian Abhijit Ganguly posted on X about his challenging experience taking an 11:30 pm flight from Bangalore to Mumbai amidst severe thunderstorms. The pilot couldn't land in the capital city due to the weather, diverting first to Ahmedabad and then to Indore. They remained inside during refueling, waiting for the weather in Mumbai to improve. The flight finally departed at 5 am and landed in Mumbai at 6 am, with passengers disembarking at 7 am, likening the experience to a moment from "Shawshank Redemption."

An X user advised people to leave for the airport early because of waterlogging at the Powai L&T junction.

Since Sunday, the capital city has experienced heavy rains, resulting in the closure of all schools and colleges due to waterlogging in multiple areas. The movement of local trains was also affected by waterlogging on railway tracks

Also Read: Bengaluru Airport Commuters Fume Over Flooded Elevated Corridor After Rain