New Delhi, April 20 — In yet another instance highlighting ongoing challenges at India’s busiest airport, an IndiGo flight carrying former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was diverted to Jaipur late Friday due to what authorities cited as “congestion” at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA).
The unexpected rerouting has drawn sharp criticism from Omar Abdullah, who took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express frustration. “Flight diverted to Jaipur due to operational chaos at Delhi airport. What a mess! If this is how VIP flights are handled, I shudder to think about what common passengers go through daily,” he posted.
🛫 What Happened?
The IndiGo flight was originally scheduled to land in Delhi, but due to air traffic congestion and delays in landing slots, the pilot received instructions to divert to Jaipur International Airport.
Airport officials in Delhi have acknowledged a surge in flight traffic, worsened by ongoing runway maintenance and weather-related delays over the past few days. While some congestion is routine during peak hours, frequent diversions have led to growing complaints from passengers and airlines alike.
🗣️ Abdullah’s Sharp Critique
Abdullah didn’t mince words in pointing out flaws in airport operations:
“If Delhi airport authorities can’t manage traffic efficiently, it’s time for the civil aviation ministry to step in. It’s no longer just inconvenience; it’s mismanagement.”
He also raised concerns over lack of passenger communication, alleging that many on the flight were left unaware of the next steps after landing in Jaipur.
✈️ Delhi Airport Under Pressure
Delhi Airport, which handles over 1,400 flights a day, has been under scrutiny in recent months due to:
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Infrastructure bottlenecks
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Runway closures for upgrades
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Poor weather coordination
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Passenger handling delays
The Ministry of Civil Aviation is expected to seek an explanation from Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) and IndiGo over the diversion and mounting passenger grievances.
