An IndiGo flight scheduled from Delhi to Patna was diverted to Lucknow’s Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport on April 22, 2024 [3].
The incident highlights the vulnerability of regional aviation hubs to sudden weather shifts, which can disrupt travel for thousands of passengers across northern India.
Heavy rain, thunderstorms, and low visibility triggered the diversions. The India Meteorological Department issued a yellow alert for rain and thunderstorms [4]. "The weather in the National Capital has turned hazardous with thunderstorms and low visibility, prompting diversions to alternate airports," the India Meteorological Department said [4].
IndiGo responded to the disruptions by issuing a travel advisory for all flights departing from Delhi. "We have issued a travel advisory for flights departing Delhi due to adverse weather conditions and advise passengers to check their flight status," an IndiGo spokesperson said.
The diversion of the Delhi-to-Patna flight gained significant public attention after a video of the aircraft touching down in Lucknow went viral on social media. "A video of the Lucknow landing has gone viral, showing the aircraft touching down safely despite the challenging conditions," an MSN news reporter said.
Lucknow airport faced an unprecedented surge in traffic due to the weather in the capital. Reports indicate that between 15 [1] and 16 [2] flights were diverted to Lucknow from Delhi in a single day. One report specified that two flights were cancelled entirely [1].
Air traffic controllers in Lucknow managed the record number of detours as the National Capital Region struggled with hazardous visibility. The diversions ensured passenger safety by avoiding the most severe thunderstorm cells concentrated around Indira Gandhi International Airport.
“"The weather in the National Capital has turned hazardous with thunderstorms and low visibility,"”
The record number of diversions to Lucknow underscores the critical role of secondary airports as safety valves during extreme weather events in Delhi. As flight volumes increase, the ability of alternate airports to handle sudden spikes in traffic becomes a key component of regional aviation resilience.
