A sudden spell of severe weather over Delhi on Wednesday evening disrupted flight operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), leading to multiple flight diversions, delays and go-arounds. Heavy rain, hailstorms and strong gusty winds created unsafe landing conditions, forcing airlines and air traffic controllers to reroute aircraft in real time.
Multiple Flights Diverted Amid Bad Weather
Between around 7:25 pm and 8:30 pm, at least ten incoming flights scheduled to land at Delhi airport were diverted due to adverse runway and visibility conditions.
Several aircraft were also forced to perform go-arounds, a standard aviation safety procedure where pilots abort landing attempts and circle back for another approach when conditions are unsafe.
The sudden weather change sharply reduced visibility and created unstable wind patterns across Delhi-NCR, affecting airport operations during peak evening hours.
Domestic And International Routes Impacted
The disruption affected some of the country’s busiest domestic routes. Flights arriving from cities including Jammu, Patna, Chennai, Hyderabad, Guwahati and Bengaluru were among those impacted.
International operations were also affected, including an Air India service arriving from Denpasar and a cargo flight from Hong Kong.
Major airlines such as IndiGo issued travel advisories asking passengers to check flight status before leaving for the airport.
Weather-Related Aviation Disruptions On The Rise
Experts say weather-related disruptions are becoming increasingly common across India’s aviation sector due to changing climate conditions.
Stronger thunderstorms, sudden wind shifts, intense rainfall and prolonged fog events are making airport operations more vulnerable, especially at busy hubs like Delhi airport, which handles more than 1,300 flight movements daily.
Delhi has witnessed several similar incidents in recent months. In March 2026, over 20 flights were diverted because of severe storms, while nearly 49 flights were rerouted during thunderstorms in May 2025.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has repeatedly warned that extreme weather events in urban India are becoming more frequent and unpredictable.
Ripple Effect Across The Aviation Network
A disruption at a major airport like Delhi often creates operational problems across the country. Diverted flights can delay future departures, affect crew schedules, increase congestion at alternate airports and lead to missed passenger connections nationwide.
For passengers, this means longer waiting times, disrupted travel plans and missed meetings or holidays. Airlines, meanwhile, face higher fuel consumption, operational delays and increased costs.
The latest disruption highlights the growing need for climate-resilient aviation infrastructure as India’s air traffic network continues to expand rapidly.