Heavy rains and gusty winds forced Mumbai international airport authorities to suspend all runway operations for an hour on Sunday, severely disrupting flight services at the facility. The closure at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport lasted from 10.17 am to 11.17 am, affecting numerous inbound and outbound flights.
Weather conditions and safety measures
According to airport authorities, adverse weather conditions including strong gusty winds of up to 42 knots and reduced visibility due to heavy rain impacted runway operations. As per standard procedure, runway operations were temporarily suspended to ensure the safety of passengers, aircraft, and ground personnel. Following an improvement in weather conditions, normal runway operations resumed after an hour.
Impact on flight schedules
Passengers faced an average departure delay of 75 minutes and arrival delays of at least 28 minutes. According to live flight-tracking website flightradar24.com, 87 per cent of flights were delayed at the airport, while 62 per cent arrived late. Additionally, 3 per cent of city-bound flights were cancelled due to the weather conditions.
Airport traffic and response
The airport, jointly owned by the Adani Group and Airports Authority of India, declined to share the exact number of cancelled or delayed flights. Air Traffic Control (ATC) sources indicated that the airport handles 980 to 1,000 flights daily, with an average of 48 air traffic movements per hour—24 arrivals and 24 departures.
