Heavy fog engulfed vast regions of Bihar on Saturday morning, severely impacting air travel and leading to significant delays at the state's major airports. The thick blanket of fog drastically reduced visibility, forcing authorities to temporarily halt flight operations during the early hours.
Major Disruption at Patna's Key Airport
At the Jayprakash Narayan International Airport in Patna, all flight activities were suspended in the morning due to dangerously poor visibility conditions. Airport officials confirmed that operations could only recommence after 11 am, once the visibility improved to a runway visual range (RVR) of 800 metres, which is the minimum required for aircraft to land safely.
This suspension caused a cascade of delays, affecting hundreds of passengers. In total, nine incoming flights were delayed, while 11 outgoing departures were impacted. However, airport director Chandra Pratap Dwivedi clarified that no flights were cancelled or diverted from Patna airport specifically due to the adverse weather.
First Landing and Ripple Effects Across Bihar
The first aircraft to land after the fog cleared was an Air India service. Flight AI-749, which was Delhi-bound, finally touched down at 11.07 am. This flight, originally scheduled for a 9.40 am arrival, was delayed by one hour and 27 minutes because of the dense fog. It later departed for Delhi at 12.10 pm.
Officials stated that while the morning hours were largely affected, flight operations returned to normal as the day progressed. The disruption was not confined to Patna alone. At Darbhanga airport, a Delhi-bound Akasa Air flight (QP-1405) was cancelled for the day. The remaining five flights at this airport operated with only minor delays.
Limited Impact at Purnia
Services at Purnia airport managed to continue with relatively limited disruption. All five scheduled flights operated on Saturday, experiencing only minor hiccups despite the challenging foggy conditions that blanketed the state.
The incident highlights the recurring winter challenge for aviation in North India, where dense fog frequently tests airport infrastructure and operational protocols, leading to widespread passenger inconvenience.
